Obama Poised to Surrender Control of the Internet

Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) introduced the Protecting Internet Freedom Act this past week, which would prevent the Obama administration from giving the Internet away to a global organization that will allow over 160 foreign governments to have increased influence over the management and operation of the Internet.Protect the Internet Freedom Act

The bill would ensure the continued protection of Internet freedom by prohibiting the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from allowing the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions contract to expire, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The Protecting Internet Freedom Act would also ensure that the United States maintains sole ownership of the .gov and .mil top-level domains, which are vital to national security.

The Obama administration backed a plan submitted by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or Icann, to free itself in September from the U.S. oversight that has kept the internet open since the 1990s.

The plan gives foreign governments new powers. Authoritarian regimes would gain greater influence over the Icann board, and for the first time governments would have a vote on bylaw changes, removal of the board and the budget. Further analysis may be found in the Wall Street Journal.

Support Senator Cruz in his effort to protect our control and use of the internet.