NTIA Chief To ICANN: Proceed With Caution

National Telecommunications and Information Administration chief Meredith Baker told the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers that the agency's blueprint for making sweeping changes to the way top-level domains are assigned must take into consideration the impact of potential changes to the registrar and registry marketplace and demonstrate that it has the sufficient capacity to enforce contract compliance with an as yet unknown number of new contracts. She warned against expanding the marketplace before having "effective and meaningful tools to protect consumers and brand owners" and said appropriate mechanisms must be in place to address dispute resolution with respect to new domain names "including the delicate issues of morality and public order." She also urged ICANN to provide clarity on the fee structure, the possible use of auctions, and the disposition of excess revenues given ICANN's status as a non-profit.