IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1775 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations 

and other international governmental organizations shall not be allowed 

to exercise control over the Internet. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 17, 2010 

Mrs. BONO MACK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the United Nations and other international governmental 

organizations shall not be allowed to exercise control 

over the Internet. 

Whereas market-based policies and private sector leadership 

have allowed the Internet the flexibility to evolve; 

Whereas given the importance of the Internet to the global 

economy, it is essential that the underlying technical infrastructure of the Internet remain stable and secure; 

Whereas the developing world deserves the access to knowledge, services, commerce, and communication, the accompanying benefits to economic development, education, 

health care, and the informed discussion that is the bedVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:47 Dec 19, 2010 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1775.IH HR1775

rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
2 

HRES 1775 IH 

rock of democratic self-government that the Internet provides; 

Whereas the explosive and hugely beneficial growth of the 

Internet did not result from increased government involvement but from the opening of the Internet to commerce and private sector innovation; 

Whereas some nations that advocate radical change in the 

structure of Internet governance censor the information 

available to their citizens through the Internet and use 

the Internet as a tool of surveillance to curtail legitimate 

political discussion and dissent, and other nations operate 

telecommunications systems as state-controlled monopolies or highly-regulated and highly-taxed entities; 

Whereas some nations in support of transferring Internet 

governance to an entity affiliated with the United Nations, or another international governmental entity, might 

seek to have such an entity endorse national policies that 

block access to information, stifle political dissent, and 

maintain outmoded communications structures; and 

Whereas the structure and control of Internet governance has 

profound implications for homeland security, competition 

and trade, democratization, free expression, access to information, privacy, and the protection of intellectual 

property, and the threat of some nations to take unilateral actions that would fracture the root zone file would 

result in a less functional Internet with diminished benefits for all people: Now, therefore be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) calls on the President to continue to oppose 

3 any effort to transfer control of the Internet to the 


rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
3 

HRES 1775 IH 

1 United Nations or any other international govern2 mental entity; and 

3 (2) calls on the President to— 

4 (A) recognize the need for, and pursue a 

5 continuing and constructive dialogue with the 

6 international community on, the future of Inter7 net governance; and 

8 (B) advance the values of a free Internet 

9 in the broader trade and diplomatic conversa10 tions of the United States. 

Æ 


rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS