III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 127 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 

Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance the multistakeholder governance model 

under which the Internet has thrived. 

Whereas given the importance of the Internet to the global 

economy, it is essential that the Internet remain stable, 

secure, and free from government control; 

Whereas the world deserves the access to knowledge, services, 

commerce, and communication, the accompanying benefits to economic development, education, and 


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HCON 127 RFS 

health care, and the informed discussion that is the bedrock of democratic self-government that the Internet provides; 

Whereas the structure of Internet governance has profound 

implications for competition and trade, democratization, 

free expression, and access to information; 

Whereas countries have obligations to protect human rights, 

which are advanced by online activity as well as offline 

activity; 

Whereas the ability to innovate, develop technical capacity, 

grasp economic opportunities, and promote freedom of 

expression online is best realized in cooperation with all 

stakeholders; 

Whereas proposals have been put forward for consideration at 

the 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications that would fundamentally alter the governance and operation of the Internet; 

Whereas the proposals, in international bodies such as the 

United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations 

Commission on Science and Technology for Development, 

and the International Telecommunication Union, would 

justify under international law increased government control over the Internet and would reject the current multistakeholder model that has enabled the Internet to flourish and under which the private sector, civil society, academia, and individual users play an important role in 

charting its direction; 

Whereas the proposals would diminish the freedom of expression on the Internet in favor of government control over 

content, contrary to international law; 


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HCON 127 RFS 

Whereas the position of the United States Government has 

been and is to advocate for the flow of information free 

from government control; and 

Whereas this and past Administrations have made a strong 

commitment to the multistakeholder model of Internet 

governance and the promotion of the global benefits of 

the Internet: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the As3 sistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 

4 Information, in consultation with the Deputy Assistant 

5 Secretary of State and United States Coordinator for 

6 International Communications and Information Policy, 

7 should continue working to implement the position of the 

8 United States on Internet governance that clearly articu9 lates the consistent and unequivocal policy of the United 

10 States to promote a global Internet free from government 

11 control and preserve and advance the successful multi12 stakeholder model that governs the Internet today. 

Passed the House of Representatives August 2, 

2012. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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