Changes

==Comment on ICANN Ethics Rules==

==Comment on ICANN Ethics Rules==

On September 14, 2011, Sen. Wyden wrote to [[NTIA]] Assistant Secretary [[Lawrence Strickling]] about the issue of the "revolving door" at ICANN, referencing how some of the organization's staff and Board members had left their positions after obtaining high-paying industry positions. In his letter, Wyden pointed out that sale of domain names has become a multi-million dollar industry and it is expected to experience a significant growth due to the recent approval for the new gTLD expansion program. In his concern regarding the "revolving door" at ICANN, Wyden emphasized that he supported the NTIA regulating [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]], and pushed that IANA employees should be made subject to the same ethics rules as NTIA employees, in order to ensure that decisions are made impartially.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref> Senator Wyden recommended the inclusion of strict ethics guidelines highlighting transparency in the next contract negotiation for the administration of the IANA functions, whether it is made with ICANN or to any other organization.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/us-extends-icanns-iana-contract/ US extends ICANN’s IANA contract]</ref>  

On September 14, 2011, Sen. Wyden wrote to [[NTIA]] Assistant Secretary [[Lawrence Strickling]] about the issue of the "revolving door" at ICANN, referencing how some of the organization's staff and Board members had left their positions after obtaining high-paying industry positions. In his letter, Wyden pointed out that sale of domain names has become a multi-million dollar industry and it is expected to experience a significant growth due to the recent approval of [[ICANN]]'s [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD expansion program]]. Sen. Wyden emphasized that he supported NTIA regulating [[IANA|Internet Assigned Numbers Authority]], and suggested that IANA employees should be made subject to the same ethics rules as NTIA employees, in order to ensure that decisions are made impartially.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref> Senator Wyden recommended the inclusion of strict ethics guidelines highlighting transparency in the next contract negotiation for the administration of the IANA functions, whether it is made with ICANN or to any other organization.<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]] joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011, immediately following the expiration of his term as Chairman of the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated to providing domain name management solutions, including for 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]] joined [[Minds+Machines]] as Executive Chairman of the company on July 15, 2011, immediately following the expiration of his term as Chairman of the [[ICANN Board]] on June 24, 2011. Minds+Machines is a company dedicated to providing domain name management solutions, including for new gTLD applications; Mr. Thrush voted for the approval of the implementation of the new [[gTLD]] Expansion Program, which opened 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 was actively exploring including provisions in the next IANA contract that would 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 various Internet stakeholders who had 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 was actively exploring including provisions in the next IANA contract that would 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 various Internet stakeholders who had 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>