Locke Pays 'Serious Attention' To ICANN

Back in May, Sens Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) wrote Commerce Secretary Gary Locke urging Commerce and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help find "a permanent accountability mechanism to replace the oversight that has historically been provided by the department." The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers's formal relationship with the U.S. government is slated to expire in September, which has prompted calls for greater scrutiny of the California-based nonprofit on Capitol Hill. In late June. Sec Locke wrote an answer to the senators saying he is giving "serious attention to the critical responsibilities" of his department's role with respect to the ICANN.