109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 268
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding 
oversight of the Internet Corporation for As-
signed Names and Numbers.
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 268
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas the origins of the Internet can be found in United 
States Government funding of research to develop packet-
switching technology and communications networks, 
starting with the ‘‘ARPANET’’ network established by 
the Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects 
Agency in the 1960s and carried forward by the National 
Science Foundation’s ‘‘NSFNET’’;
•HCON 268 EH 
Whereas in subsequent years the Internet evolved from a 
United States Government research initiative to a global 
tool for information exchange as in the 1990s it was com-
mercialized by private sector investment, technical man-
agement and coordination; 
Whereas since its inception the authoritative root zone serv-
er—the file server system that contains the master list of 
all top level domain names made available for routers 
serving the Internet—has been physically located in the 
United States; 
Whereas today the Internet is a global communications net-
work of inestimable value; 
Whereas the continued success and dynamism of the Internet 
is dependent upon continued private sector leadership 
and the ability for all users to participate in its continued 
evolution; 
Whereas in allowing people all around the world freely to ex-
change information, communicate with one another, and 
facilitate economic growth and democracy, the Internet 
has enormous potential to enrich and transform human 
society; 
Whereas existing structures have worked effectively to make 
the Internet the highly robust medium that it is today; 
Whereas the security and stability of the Internet’s under-
lying infrastructure, the domain name and addressing 
system, must be maintained; 
Whereas the United States has been committed to the prin-
ciples of freedom of expression and the free flow of infor-
mation, as expressed in Article 19 of the Universal Dec-
laration of Human Rights, and reaffirmed in the Geneva
•HCON 268 EH 
Declaration of Principles adopted at the first phase of 
the World Summit on the Information Society; 
Whereas the U.S. Principles on the Internet’s Domain Name 
and Addressing System, issued on June 30, 2005, rep-
resent an appropriate framework for the coordination of 
the system at the present time; 
Whereas the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and 
Numbers popularly known as ICANN, is the proper orga-
nization to coordinate the technical day-to-day operation 
of the Internet’s domain name and addressing system; 
Whereas all stakeholders from around the world, including 
governments, are encouraged to advise ICANN in its de-
cision-making; 
Whereas ICANN makes significant efforts to ensure that the 
views of governments and all Internet stakeholders are 
reflected in its activities; 
Whereas governments have legitimate concerns with respect 
to the management of their country code top level do-
mains; 
Whereas the United States Government is committed to 
working successfully with the international community to 
address those concerns, bearing in mind the need for sta-
bility and security of the Internet’s domain name and ad-
dressing system; 
Whereas the topic of Internet governance, as currently being 
discussed in the United Nations World Summit on the 
Information Society is a broad and complex topic; 
Whereas it is appropriate for governments and other stake-
holders to discuss Internet governance, given that the 
Internet will likely be an increasingly important part of 
the world economy and society in the 21st Century;
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Whereas Internet governance discussions in the World Sum-
mit should focus on the real threats to the Internet’s 
growth and stability, and not recommend changes to the 
current regime of domain name and addressing system 
management and coordination on political grounds unre-
lated to any technical need; and 
Whereas market-based policies and private sector leadership 
have allowed this medium the flexibility to innovate and 
evolve: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) it is incumbent upon the United States and 
other responsible governments to send clear signals 
to the marketplace that the current structure of 
oversight and management of the Internet’s domain 
name and addressing service works, and will con-
tinue to deliver tangible benefits to Internet users 
worldwide in the future; and 
(2) therefore the authoritative root zone server 
should remain physically located in the United 
States and the Secretary of Commerce should main-
tain oversight of ICANN so that ICANN can con-
tinue to manage the day-to-day operation of the 
Internet’s domain name and addressing system well,
•HCON 268 EH 
remain responsive to all Internet stakeholders world-
wide, and otherwise fulfill its core technical mission.
Passed the House of Representatives November 16, 
2005. 
Attest:
Clerk.