Changes

[http://domainincite.com/us-extends-icanns-iana-contract/ US extends ICANN’s IANA contract]</ref>  

[http://domainincite.com/us-extends-icanns-iana-contract/ US extends ICANN’s IANA contract]</ref>  

Wyden raised his concern after several reports and criticisms were written about the "revolving door" issue when [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] immediately joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011. His term expired as Chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated in providing domain name management solutions including new gTLD applications. Thrush voted for the approval of the implementation of the new gTLD Expansion Program schedule to start on January 12, 2012.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/icann-departures-draw-criticism/2011/08/19/gIQAzpeDTJ_story_1.html ICANN departures after Web suffix vote draw criticism]</ref>

Wyden raised his concern after several reports and criticisms were written about the "revolving door" issue when [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] immediately joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011. His term expired as Chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated in providing domain name management solutions including new gTLD applications. Thrush voted for the approval of the implementation of the new [[gTLD]] Expansion Program schedule to start on January 12, 2012.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/icann-departures-draw-criticism/2011/08/19/gIQAzpeDTJ_story_1.html ICANN departures after Web suffix vote draw criticism]</ref>

In response, Asst. Sec. Strickling informed Sen. Wyden that NTIA is actively exploring on including provision on the next IANA contract that will provide  “a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy.” Strickling also cited the Notices of Inquiry conducted by the agency in connection with the IANA contract on February and June of 2011 wherein 136 comments were submitted by different internet stakeholders who also expressed their observation that ICANN's policies on accountability and transparency needs to be elevated.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/internetcommerce.org/NTIA_on_IANA_to_Wyden NTIA Actively Exploring Inclusion of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Provisions in IANA Contract]</ref>

In response, Asst. Sec. Strickling informed Sen. Wyden that NTIA is actively exploring on including provision on the next IANA contract that will provide  “a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy.” Strickling also cited the Notices of Inquiry conducted by the agency in connection with the IANA contract on February and June of 2011 wherein 136 comments were submitted by different internet stakeholders who also expressed their observation that ICANN's policies on accountability and transparency needs to be elevated.<ref>[http://internetcommerce.org/internetcommerce.org/NTIA_on_IANA_to_Wyden NTIA Actively Exploring Inclusion of Ethics and Conflict of Interest Provisions in IANA Contract]</ref>