Hearing looks at Internet name privatization plan

HEARING LOOKS AT INTERNET NAME PRIVATIZATION PLAN
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Joel Rothstein]
The U.S. Commerce Department will hold a Wednesday hearing on the government's September deadline to give up control over Internet domain names, a schedule that some high-tech industry advocates say should be delayed. The U.S. government controls the naming system for ".com" and all web addresses through the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a California-based not-for-profit company that decides what names can and cannot be registered.Some foreign governments and critics have been concerned that the U.S. government has too much control over what has become a global commerce, communications and social engine. The transition is currently slated to take place by September 30, but the U.S. Commerce Department has the option to extend its control. The Commerce Department scheduled the Wednesday hearing to consider "the progress of this transition" to the private sector, according to a department statement.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2006-07-24T212541Z_01_N24378087_RTRUKOC_0_US-INTERNET.xml&archived=False

* Public Meeting and Webcast Info Page
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/forums/2006/726dns/index.htm