Press Release: Commerce's NTIA Seeks Public Comment Regarding Expiration of the Joint Project Agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Set to Expire September 30, 2009

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2009
Contact:  Bart Forbes, (202) 482-7002 or press@ntia.doc.gov

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking public comment regarding the September 30, 2009, expiration date of its Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

This JPA extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Commerce and ICANN regarding transitioning the technical management of the domain name and addressing system (DNS) to the private sector.  The DNS translates numeric Internet addresses into words, allowing people to navigate the Internet easier.

“The Internet is increasingly important to the world economy,” said Acting NTIA Administrator Anna M. Gomez. "The Administration is committed to ensuring that the management of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system remains stable and secure in a manner that both increases competition and encourages international participation."

Details of the Notice of Inquiry are available at the Federal Register at www.federalregister.gov and at the NTIA Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov. Comments may be submitted to DNSTransition@ntia.doc.gov and are due on or before June 8, 2009. Comments will be posted to NTIA's Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov.

U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration serves as the executive branch agency principally responsible for advising the President on communications and information policies.  For more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.

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