Congressman addresses domain conference in Miami, Florida.
Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) addressed the TRAFFIC domain conference this afternoon. About 75 people were in attendance during Stearns’ fireside chat with show organizer Howard Neu. Stearns was joined by retired Congressman Mike Ferguson. Stearns is a member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet, and Ferguson was on this subcommittee while he served.
Stearns said there are lot of things people in the domain name industry should be concerned about:
-Cybersecurity, shutting down your domain names, and trademarks
-ICANN, concerns about moving it to under umbrella of United Nations, Stearns said he’s been fighting this
-Net Neutrality, possible taxes on internet service
-Reciprocity for fraud overseas
-Copyright infringement/trademark
-Re-write of the 1996 Telecommunications Act
Stearns said the domain industry should look to Congress to set a level playing field. He said that if a big company sues you over a trademark, odds are you’re going to wilt because they have more money than you.
Ferguson noted that there are a special interests that are getting their voices heard, and the domain name industry needs to do the same thing.
Happy to see that Rep. Stearns was invited to speak, as he is likely to be a key Chairman for our industry in the next Congress.
The Internet Commerce Association has been working on a multitude of issues that affect the domain investment and development industry — in Washington as well as ICANN. A summary of our 2010 activities through August was published here at https://domainnamewire.com/2010/08/23/catching-up-with-the-internet-commerce-association/ . Since then we have been very actively involved in seeking to assure a go slow approach on the Leahy domain blocking proposal that deals with the many issues raised by us and others regarding this proposed law. Domain industry professonials interested in keeping abreast of our public policy issues should check http://www.internetcommerce.org on a regular basis.
@ Philip Corwin
I agree and i am sure everyone is pleased, and that all domainers look forward to working with our Rep Stearns for..
Truth, Justice and the American way 🙂
———————————————
ON AN EMOTIONAL NOTE:
of Dire Immediate Concern:
Domainers Freedom of speech attacked
SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY and his misguided unpatriotic,unconstitutional minded dwarfs
are pushing the “Domain Blocking BILL”
NOW up for serious passage review AGAIN…
after the current Washington recess is seated…
This REAL…
Fascist like, “PENDING BILL”
appears to be the excuse the U.S. Government will use to start control over the Internet and ultimately YOU and ME.
SENATOR LEAHY WOULD HAVE YOUR WEBSITE PUT ON
A BLACK LIST AND CENSORED, AND THEN SEIZED WITHOUT DELAY AND REMOVED FROM THE INTERNET… without
“DUE PROCESS … LIKE IN CHINA!!!!
THIS IS NOT A JOKE!
READ and Research:
http://www.indybay.org/newsiest/2010/09/27/18660060.php
We discussed the Leahy Domain-blocking proposal, the need for folks to join ICA and CFIT, the fact that phil is the only one representing the industry on Capitol Hill, and other matters of great concern to all domainers. Congressman Stearns received a big round of applause when he commented that while others try to characterize us as Cybersquatters, he believes that we are Homesteaders.
DOMAIN BLOCKING PROPOSAL!
To all Fellow Homesteaders…
This IS the “Petition Against the BILL”
http://demandprogress.org/blacklist/coica
AND
a detailed “PCMAG Article” about all
the evil rotten fascist doings.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369948,00.asp
Was there any mention or discussion about Verisign’s monopolistic base pricing practices on domains at the wholesale level ? ….and/or ICANN’s permittance or enabling of this ?
@ NetJohn – yes, this was brought up
The Leahy bill poses very real concerns. ICA raised those concerns immediately upon the bill’s introduction and we are pleased to see that Internet public interest groups and tech industry trade associations and companies have subsequently raised those same warnings.
I would however strongly caution against calling Chairman Leahy a “fascist” and his cosponsors “dwarfs” — he and they are not. This legislation was probably cooked up by the entertainment and other content industry players who no doubt contended it would be noncontroversial — and now that has blown up in their face, diminishing their credibility. Opponents of the legislation should not diminish their own credibility by characterizing Senators in derogatory way. I would encourage all U.S. domain industry participants to call or write their Senators and express yourself on this proposal — but stick to the problems with the bill and steer clear of name calling if you want to be effective.
@ Phillip Corwin,
Sir,
I am pleased to see that you are of a
view that ANY BILL that threatens
“Freedom of Speech and attempts
to circumvent the constitution of the United States and should be aggressively quashed by mere civic duty,and proudly challenged by
ANY member of the free world.
If you believe that Senators Leahy and Hatch are NOW of the opinion that this BILL is of “controversial Content” that they will NOW withdraw there “SPONSORSHIP of the BILL” without further challenge from there constituents.
I am sure it is transparent by now that the self serving “Domain Blocking Bill” is an attempt by a misguided interest group as you suggested herein, and i add to circumvent the “Bill of Rights” at any cost and with out regard to its chilling effect on freedom of Creativity, Expression,and Free Speech.
I am also with a sound mind sure that without question, even the idea of said proposed legislation to monitor ANY communication OR EXPRESSION in a free society is an appalling and a outrageous UN-American concept that shall be
fiercly defended without waiver.