Get ready for representatives to pretend like they know about domain names.
ICANN and its new top level domain name program will be put under the microscope in Washington, D.C. twice over the next 7 days.
Tomorrow morning the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a hearing called “ICANN’s Expansion of Top Level Domains”. As usual, the deck is stacked against ICANN. Three of the five witnesses will be against the program in its current form, ICANN will have one representative, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will probably be somewhat neutral.
Then on December 14 the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing titled “ICANN’s Top-Level Domain Name Program”. Witnesses have not been announced, but ICANN Senior Vice President Kurt Pritz may as well get an extended stay hotel.
Brad says
Most of the corporate interests are lining up against the new gTLD program.
FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz on ICANN’s new gTLD plan –
“We are very, very concerned about the rollout of the new domain name proposal that has the potential to be a disaster for consumers and for businesses,” . “We see enormous costs to consumers and businesses and not a lot of benefits.”
George Kirikos says
What’s Rod Beckstrom’s excuse for sitting on the bench for the 2nd hearing going to be?
Brad says
@ George
He is too busy looking for a new job in the new gTLD industry he created.
Maybe Peter Dengate Thrush can put in a good word for him…
Brad