Make the internet American again? Trump's NTIA pick opened the door

President Donald Trump's pick to head the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, David Redl, privately assured Republican senators that he would look at reversing the Obama administration's decision to give up US oversight of over ICANN, the global nonprofit that manages the internet's domain name system. Redl made the pledge  to Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), who had condemned the move to international control as a giveaway that could empower authoritarian governments. Candidate Donald Trump has also attacked former President Barack Obama’s handover, describing it as a “stupid” decision that would turn over “the internet to foreigners." Redl promised the senators that he would recommend convening a "panel of experts to investigate options for unwinding the transition." It’s unclear whether Redl, who took office two months ago, has followed through on the pledge, or whether the Commerce Department even has the ability to reverse the handover at this point. But his words appear to contradict public statements from both Redl and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross — while offering signs that Trump’s “America First” mantra may be intruding into the administration’s approach to the internet.