Let Your Voice be Heard on IANA Transition
Nearly 17 months ago, NTIA kicked off activities to complete the privatization of the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) as promised in 1998 by transitioning our stewardship role over certain technical functions related to the DNS.
We have reached an important milestone in that process as the two working groups tasked with developing proposals related to the transition have released them for final comment.
These technical functions, known as the IANA functions, play an important but limited role in how the DNS and Internet operate. The DNS allows users to identify websites, mail servers, and other Internet destinations using easy-to-understand names (e.g., www.ntia.doc.gov) rather than the numeric network addresses (e.g., 170.110.225.163) necessary to retrieve information on the Internet.
The IANA transition will advance our commitment to ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for global economic growth, innovation and free speech.
Since March 2014, the Internet community – made up of technical experts, businesses and civil society – has spent hundreds of hours devising a transition proposal that aims to meet the principles we outlined, including preserving the openness, security and resiliency of the Internet.