U.S. plan to cede Internet domain control on track

A controversial Obama administration plan to cede oversight of the non-profit that manages the Internet’s infrastructure is on track to gain government approval by next year’s presidential elections, the organization’s chief said in an interview.

 

Some Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the plan to hand over the stewardship of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to a global multi-stakeholder body, worried that it may allow other countries to capture control.

 

But ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé said such opposition was fading and that some opponents would come around once they see the accountability mechanisms and other assurances put in place.

 

“I think they see now that this is actually a good thing for the Internet. The fragmentation of the Internet is bad for everyone,” he said.

 

“I’m never comfortable, but I am optimistic and I believe that all interests are now aligned… Everybody sees that this makes sense.”

 

Read More: U.S. plan to cede Internet domain control on track: ICANN head | Reuters