IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 127 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to preserve and advance 
the multistakeholder governance model under which the Internet has thrived. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 30, 2012 
Mrs. BONO MACK (for herself, Mr. UPTON, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. WALDEN, and 
Ms. ESHOO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding actions to pre-
serve 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 bene-
fits to economic development, education, and health care, 
and the informed discussion that is the bedrock of demo-
cratic 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; 
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•HCON 127 IH 
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 Tele-
communications that would fundamentally alter the gov-
ernance 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 con-
trol over the Internet and would reject the current multi-
stakeholder model that has enabled the Internet to flour-
ish and under which the private sector, civil society, aca-
demia, and individual users play an important role in 
charting its direction; 
Whereas the proposals would diminish the freedom of expres-
sion on the Internet in favor of government control over 
content, contrary to international law; 
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 
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•HCON 127 IH 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the As-
sistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and 
Information, in consultation with the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State and United States Coordinator for 
International Communications and Information Policy, 
should continue working to implement the position of the 
United States on Internet governance that clearly articu-
lates the consistent and unequivocal policy of the United 
States to promote a global Internet free from government 
control and preserve and advance the successful multi-
stakeholder model that governs the Internet today. 
Æ 
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