ICANN
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the technical coordination of the Internet's domain name system (DNS). On September 30, 2009, NTIA, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce, reached agreement with ICANN on an Affirmation of Commitments that completed the transition of the technical coordination of the DNS to a multi-stakeholder, private-sector led model and contains provisions to ensure accountability and transparency in ICANN's decision-making with the goal of protecting the interests of global Internet users, as well as mechanisms to address the security stability, and resiliency of the Internet DNS.
NTIA represents the U.S. government in ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), which is structured to provide advice to the ICANN Board on the public policy aspects of the broad range of issues pending before ICANN.
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Announcement of Joint Project Agreement with ICANN on the Coordination of Internet Domain Name and Addressing System
The Commerce Department today announced it has signed a Joint Project Agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to continue the transition of the coordination of the technical functions relating to the management of the Internet Domain Name and Addressing System to the private sector. It focuses on institutionalizing transparency and accountability mechanisms in the management of the Internet domain name and addressing system.
Commerce's NTIA and ICANN Establish a Long-Lasting Framework for the Technical Coordination of the Internet's Domain Name and Addressing System
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that establishes a long-lasting framework for the technical coordination of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system (DNS).