Oct. 2, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement in response to Congress continuing to defund the transition by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN):
“Congress took decisive action by again defunding the giveaway of U.S. oversight of the Internet domain name system in the continuing resolution. This is important because although the contract has been extended for up to a year, federal rules permit NTIA to unilaterally change the contract with ICANN without notifying Congress. Thanks to the defund, the Internet giveaway will be impossible for the next two months.
“This critical step will protect the First Amendment freedoms of speech and the press on the Internet from international meddling and potential censorship. We thank House and Senate leaders for recognizing the importance of this issue.
“This is a prime example of how Congress can utilize the power of the purse to reassert its Article One constitutional prerogatives, and maintain Congress’ primacy in setting fiscal policy. We encourage Congress to embrace a comprehensive defunding strategy to stop Obama’s regulatory onslaught.”
Attachments:
H.R.719
SEC. 101.(a) Such amounts as may be necessary, at a rate for operations as provided in the applicable appropriations Acts for fiscal year 2015 and under the authority and conditions provided in such Acts, for continuing projects or activities (including the costs of direct loans and loan guarantees) that are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Act, that were conducted in fiscal year 2015, and for which appropriations, funds, or other authority were made available in the following appropriations Acts:
(2) The Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 (division B of Public Law 113-235).
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/719/text
Public Law 113-235
Sec. 540. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to relinquish the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during fiscal year 2015 with respect to Internet domain name system functions, including responsibility with respect to the authoritative root zone file and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/83/text?overview=closed
“Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz agree, don’t give away the Internet,” Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning statement, Sept. 28, 2015 at https://getliberty.org/jeb-bush-and-ted-cruz-agree-dont-give-away-the-internet/
“Not Obama’s to Give Away,” By L. Gordon Crovitz, Sept. 27, 2015 at http://www.wsj.com/articles/not-obamas-to-give-away-1443386189
House and Senate Judiciary Committee Letter questions constitutionality of Internet giveaway, Sept. 22, 2015 at http://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/judiciary/upload/2015-09-22%20CEG%20Cruz%20Goodlatte%20Issa%20to%20GAO%20%28Report%20on%20ICANN%20Oversight%20Transfer%29.pdf
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.
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