Letter from Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) to ICANN CEO Michael Roberts.
Re: House Commerce Committee hearings on top level domains.
Date: January 12, 2001.
Source: House Commerce Committee.

January 12, 2001

Michael M. Roberts
President and Chief Executive Officer
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
4674 Admiralty Way, Ste. 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292

Dear Mr. Roberts:

The Committee on Energy and Commerce is continuing its oversight of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). As you may recall, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Commerce held a hearing on July 22, 1999, to examine the issue of domain name system privatization.

In connection with our continuing review, we have been monitoring the process by which ICANN arrived at its decision in November to approve seven suffixes: .aero, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, .pro, and .biz. There have been a number of reports that ICANN’s process to create a new generation of Internet domain name suffixes may be thwarting competition in the registration and assignment of Internet domain names. As the Committee of jurisdiction over this issue, the Committee wants to ensure that this process is open and fair, and most important, successfully sparks competition. To that end, we are gathering facts in preparation for a Subcommittee on Telecommunications hearing in February to examine the process by which ICANN selects Internet domain name suffixes. Accordingly, we request that you contact Chairman Tauzin’s telecommunications counsel, Jessica Wallace, to arrange a time to jointly brief committee staff at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

BT/jw