Lawrence Strickling: Difference between revisions

During the 29th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Conference on December 8, 2011, Stricling reiterated the commitment of the United States government on the multi-stakeholder governance policy of the internet. In his speech, he emphasized that NTIA had been active in “promoting the multi-stakeholder model in the international arena through its work at ICANN and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).” According to him, the multi-stakeholder process promotes a wider, more creative problem solving, speedier and more flexible decision-making compared with traditional, top down regulatory models. However, he pointed out that the multi-stakeholder process is challenged by other countries pushing for the internet to be governed under a treaty. He cited ICANN’s latest multi-stakeholder process regarding the introduction of new gTLDs scheduled to take effect on January 2012 as an example. He pointed out the NTIA along with the global internet stakeholders from business sector, civil society, registries, registrars and governments worked together to ensure that ICANN was able to properly address all issues and concern during the six years process before approving implementing the new gTLD program. He also said that for the past two years,  NTIA moved forward to improve ICANN’s accountability and transparency. Despite the collective efforts and agreements of stakeholders worldwide, there are organizations that are not happy with the result of the multi-stakeholder process and they are trying to convince NTIA to stop or postpone the implementation of the new gTLD Program. Strickling acknowledged the reality of the multi-stakeholder process that ‘’’“it does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.”’’’ One of the organizations vigilant in criticizing ICANN’s implementation of the new gTLD program is the [[Association of National Advertisers|ANA]], which managed to asked the Senate Committee on Commerce to investigate the issue. Strickling said, ’’’”When parties ask us to overturn the outcomes of these processes, no matter how well-intentioned the request, they are providing “ammunition” to other countries who attempt to justify their unilateral actions to deny their citizens the free flow of information on the Internet.”’’’ He strongly expressed that NTIA will not overturn ICANN’s decision because the stake involved is huge. <ref>