News article with background and context:
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-5900690.html
Previous Politech message:
http://www.politechbot.com/2005/10/11/un-out-european/
http://www.politechbot.com/2005/10/04/will-the-un/
http://www.politechbot.com/2005/10/03/us-unilateral-control/
Slashdot discussion:
http://politics.slashdot.org/politics/05/10/19/1433203.shtml?tid=95&tid=219
-Declan
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http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=764
COLEMAN INTRODUCES SENSE OF SENATE RESOLUTION TO PRESERVE THE SECURITY &
STABILITY OF THE INTERNET
Coleman fights proposal to hand control of Internet governance to the
United Nations, citing threat to communication freedom and enterprise
from dangers of censorship and political suppression
October 17th, 2005 - Washington, D.C.— - Senator Norm Coleman today
introduced a Sense of the Senate Resolution to protect the U.S.’s
historic role in overseeing the operations of the Internet from an
effort to transfer control over the unprecedented communications and
informational medium to the U.N. A final report issued by the United
Nations’ Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) this past July
recommended that the U.N. assume global governance of the Internet. Next
month, a possible U.N. takeover of the Internet will be discussed at the
UN-sponsored World Summit on the Information Society meeting in Tunisia.
“There is no rational justification for politicizing Internet governance
within a U.N. framework,” said Coleman. “Nor is there a rational basis
for the anti-U.S. resentment driving the proposal. Privatization, not
politicization, is the Internet governance regime that must be fostered
and protected. At the World Summit next month, the Internet is likely to
face a grave threat. If we fail to respond appropriately, we risk the
freedom and enterprise fostered by this informational marvel, and end up
sacrificing access to information, privacy, and protection of
intellectual property we have all depended on. This is not a risk I am
prepared to take, which is why I initiated action to respond on a Senate
level to this danger.”
Sen. Coleman’s Sense of the Senate Resolution supports the four
governance principles articulated by the Bush Administration on June 30,
2005. These are:
• Preservation of the security and stability of the Internet domain name
and addressing system (DNS);
• Recognition of the legitimate interest of governments in managing
their own country code top-level domains;
• Support for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) as the appropriate technical manager of the Internet DNS;
• Participation in continuing dialogue on Internet governance in
multiple existing fora, with continued support for market-based
approaches toward, and private sector leadership of, its further evolution.
Coleman’s resolution also addresses the possibility that once Internet
governance is transferred from the U.S. to the U.N. or some other
managing body, the U.S. would have no more control over information than
countries whose national policies block access to information, stifle
political dissent, and maintain outmoded communications structures.
“Many aspects of running the Internet have profound implications for
competition and trade, democratization, and free expression,” said
Coleman. “We cannot stand idly by as some governments seek to make the
Internet an instrument of censorship and political suppression. We must
stand fast against all attempts to alter the Internet’s nature as a free
and open global system.”
The resolution further calls upon the Administration to firmly oppose
any proposal that would deviate from these core principles. Sen. Coleman
also intends to seek hearings in advance of the Tunis Summit to fully
explore the implications of multinational politicization of Internet
Governance. Coleman previously highlighted the need to protect the
Internet from the U.N. in a speech before the Senate on July 29, 2005.
Tomorrow, October 18, 2005, Sen. Coleman will urge the adoption of
extensive reforms that stemmed from his 19-month long Senate
Investigations Subcommittee probe into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Program at
a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing titled, Prospects for
United Nations Reform. Coleman has been critical of the lack of progress
on reform at the recent U.N. World Summit held in New York, saying
members failed to address the critical components of U.N. reform that
have been proposed following revelations of widespread abuses and
scandals in U.N. activities ranging from humanitarian programs to
peacekeeping. To help restore the U.N.’s credibility and efficacy, the
Coleman-Lugar Bill includes several provisions to lead the U.N. towards
greater transparency, accountability, and oversight.
“The Internet has flourished under United States supervision and
oversight, and has evolved and grown under market-based principles and
private sector leadership,” continued Coleman. “It is irresponsible to
expand the U.N.’s portfolio before it undertakes sweeping, overdue
reform. If the U.N. was unable to properly administer the Oil-for-Food
Program, I am afraid what the Internet would look like under U.N. control.”
Contact(s):
Andrea Wuebker, (651) 645-0323
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