US Internet Contract with ICANN

US INTERNET CONTRACT WITH ICANN
[SOURCE: National Telecommunications and Information Administration press release]
The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration published a notice of its intent to award a sole source contract to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Name and Numbers (ICANN) to perform key technical functions supporting the Internet Domain Name System. The Department continues to believe that ICANN is uniquely qualified to perform these services that are critical to the stability and security of the Internet. ICANN has been performing the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) services since 2000. They involve three technical coordinating functions for the Internet domain name and addressing system. These functions include coordination of the assignment for technical protocol parameters, administration of certain responsibilities associated with Internet DNS root zone management; and allocation of Internet Protocol Version (IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) address space.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/2006/IANAContract_05192006.htm