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Line 1: − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − |twitter = + − |facebook = + − + − '''Lawrence Strickling''' is a technology policy expert. He is the current Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the [[NTIA|National Telecommunications and Information Administration]] (NTIA) under the [[DOC|U.S. Department of Commerce]] (DOC). He was sworn into office on June 25, 2009. As NTIA administrator, he is responsible in making sure that the agency's initiatives will result to the expansion of broadband internet access and the internet will continue as an effective vehicle for economic growth and innovation.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/page/2011/lawrence-e-strickling Lawrence E. Strickling NTIA Biography]</ref> He is one of the main contact points between [[ICANN]] and the U.S. Government.+ Line 49:
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-Category:People; +Category:Former Government Workers; +Category:Policy Advisors using HotCat
{{People
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'''Lawrence Strickling''' is a technology policy expert. He is the former Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator of the [[NTIA|National Telecommunications and Information Administration]] (NTIA) under the [[DOC|U.S. Department of Commerce]] (DOC). He was sworn into office on June 25, 2009. As NTIA administrator, he is responsible in making sure that the agency's initiatives will result to the expansion of broadband internet access and the internet will continue as an effective vehicle for economic growth and innovation.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/page/2011/lawrence-e-strickling Lawrence E. Strickling NTIA Biography]</ref> He is one of the main contact points between [[ICANN]] and the U.S. Government.
While sometimes critical of ICANN, he is fundamentally supportive of it and its multi-stakeholder model. He has occasionally acted as an evangelist that has sought to educate the public sector and the American business community about its role within the multi-stakeholder model.<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cadna-supports-the-multi-stakeholder-model-of-internet-governance-140886693.html CADNA Supports The Multi Stakeholder Model Of Internet Governance, PRNewsWire.com]</ref>
==Career History==
==Career History==
===Issue on ICANN Ethics and Conflict of Interest===
===Issue on ICANN Ethics and Conflict of Interest===
Senator [[Ron Wyden]] wrote a letter to NTIA Assistant Secretary Strickling on September 14, 2011 regarding the issue of the “revolving door” between the domain name industry and ICANN. This was at a time when there were many reports and commentaries written about [[Peter Dengate Thrush]]'s immediate acceptance of the position as Chairman of [[Minds+Machines]] after his term expired as Chairman of the [[ICANN Board]] on June 24, 2011. Some individuals from the Internet community were uncomfortable with Thrush's move since he voted for the approval of the implementation of the new gTLD program, and days after his term expired he became the first ICANN chairperson to accept a high paying job from a company dedicated to providing complete gTLD application and registry services. Dengate Thrush did not violate any rule since there is no policy preventing the members of the ICANN Board from joining companies in the domain industry after their term expired. The Internet community, including Senator Wyden, recommended the development of a new ethics policy to prevent the “revolving door”. In his letter to Strickling, Senator Wyden stated that the designated [[[IANA]] manager, which has been as continues to be ICANN, plays a huge role in regulating the multi-million dollar domain name industry. Since IANA is not an agency of the federal government, its executives are not bound by the same financial, ethics or conflict of interest rules followed by executives of federal agencies or members of the Congress. According to Wyden, '''“While I support the control of this system by NTIA, I also believe that any IANA employees ought to be made subject to the same ethics rules in place as NTIA employees. With the growth in importance of this authority, it is important to ensure that decisions are made impartially.”''' Senator Wyden recommended strict ethics guidelines with emphasis on transparency for the next contract negotiation with ICANN or any other organization that will be selected to operate IANA.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref>
Senator [[Ron Wyden]] wrote a letter to NTIA Assistant Secretary Strickling on September 14, 2011 regarding the issue of the “revolving door” between the domain name industry and ICANN. This was at a time when there were many reports and commentaries written about [[Peter Dengate Thrush]]'s immediate acceptance of the position as Chairman of [[Minds + Machines]] after his term expired as Chairman of the [[ICANN Board]] on June 24, 2011. Some individuals from the Internet community were uncomfortable with Thrush's move since he voted for the approval of the implementation of the [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]], and days after his term expired he became the first ICANN chairperson to accept a high paying job from a company dedicated to providing complete gTLD application and registry services. Dengate Thrush did not violate any rule since there was no firm policy preventing the members of the ICANN Board from joining companies in the domain industry after their term expired. The Internet community, including Senator Wyden, recommended the development of a new ethics policy to prevent the “revolving door”. In his letter to Strickling, Senator Wyden stated that the designated [[[IANA]] manager, which has been and continues to be ICANN, plays a huge role in regulating the multi-million dollar domain name industry. Since IANA is not an agency of the federal government, its executives are not bound by the same financial, ethics or conflict of interest rules followed by executives of federal agencies or members of the Congress. According to Wyden, '''“While I support the control of this system by NTIA, I also believe that any IANA employees ought to be made subject to the same ethics rules in place as NTIA employees. With the growth in importance of this authority, it is important to ensure that decisions are made impartially.”''' Senator Wyden recommended strict ethics guidelines with emphasis on transparency for the next contract negotiation with ICANN or any other organization that will be selected to operate IANA.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2e414e69-1250-4ca3-ae6b-2b6091ed52cc Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators]</ref>
Secretary Strickling agreed with Senator Wyden’s opinion that the organization designated as the IANA manager should maintain a high level of accountability and transparency. He assured the Senator that NTIA is actively working on developing policies that will “best meet the requirement for a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy” in the next IANA contract. In addition, the Assistant Secretary also informed the Senator that two notices of inquiry had been conducted regarding the IANA contract on February and June 2011 respectively as part of the agency’s comprehensive review of IANA. NTIA received 136 comments during the global input process, which show that the stakeholders believe that there is a need to increase accountability and transparency.<ref>
Secretary Strickling agreed with Senator Wyden’s opinion that the organization designated as the IANA manager should maintain a high level of accountability and transparency. He assured the Senator that NTIA is actively working on developing policies that will “best meet the requirement for a clear and enforced ethics and conflict of interest policy” in the next IANA contract. In addition, the Assistant Secretary also informed the Senator that two notices of inquiry had been conducted regarding the IANA contract in February and June 2011 respectively as part of the agency’s comprehensive review of IANA. NTIA received 136 comments during the global input process, which can be interpreted to show that stakeholders believe that there is a need to increase accountability and transparency.<ref>
[http://www.thedomains.com/wp-content/ICANN-NTIA-Letter-to-Sen.-Wyden-9-21-11.pdf NTIA Asst. Sec. Strickling Letter to Senator Wyden]</ref><ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2011/09/28/us-department-of-commerce-to-icann-we-want-a-clear-enforced-ethics-conflict-of-interest-policy%E2%80%9D/US Department Of Commerce To ICANN: We want “A Clear & Enforced Ethics & Conflict of Interest Policy” September 28, 2011]</ref>
[http://www.thedomains.com/wp-content/ICANN-NTIA-Letter-to-Sen.-Wyden-9-21-11.pdf NTIA Asst. Sec. Strickling Letter to Senator Wyden]</ref><ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2011/09/28/us-department-of-commerce-to-icann-we-want-a-clear-enforced-ethics-conflict-of-interest-policy%E2%80%9D/US Department Of Commerce To ICANN: We want “A Clear & Enforced Ethics & Conflict of Interest Policy” September 28, 2011]</ref> A summary of the responses to Further Notice of Inquiry from the internet community regarding the operation of the IANA Function is available [http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/08/15/iana-fnoi-summary-by-sender '''here''']
NTIA decided to open the IANA contract for a competitive bidding to interested organizations and temporarily extended ICANN's contract until March 31, 2012. <ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/10/21/iana-contract-rebid-notice US government puts IANA contract out for open bidding]</ref> The notice for the solicitation of bidding to operate function is available [https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=5c2ed0cd9584c5fb886574826f39ca40&tab=core '''here''']
====ICANN Response on the Issue of Conflict of Interest====
In response to the conflict of interest issues raised by the Strickling, Senator Wyden and other organizations, the [[ICANN Board]] discussed the necessary actions to resolve the issue during an [[ICANN Board]] Governance Meeting (BGC) on September 15, 2011. The ICANN Board agreed to do the following:<ref>
[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-bgc-15sep11-en.htm Board Governance Committee ([[BGC]]) Meeting - Minutes]</ref>
* ICANN's Conflicts of Interest Policy will be reviewed by the CEO and the General Counsel, who will propose revisions.
* An external firm with expertise in advising on ethical issues will be hired to advise and assist the Internet governing body in developing an ICANN Ethics Regime or set of Guidelines for the Board, the staff and the community.
* [[Cherine Chalaby]], [[Bill Graham]] and [[Ray Plzak]] were tasked to lead a team who will review and guide staff efforts to revise the Conflicts of Interest Policy and development of the Ethics Regime or set of Guidelines.
In addition, during the ICANN Meeting in Dakar, [[ICANN CEO]] Rod Beckstrom proposed to the Internet governing body that person who will replace him should be an outsider and not involved in the domain name industry business to protect the integrity of ICANN. Beckstrom said, ''"I hope that the person who replaces me will be of the highest integrity and has no recent or current commercial or career interests in the domain industry, because ICANN’s fairness, objectivity and independence are of paramount importance to the future of the Internet. We are not here in the domain name business,” he said. “We are here to serve the global public interest."'' <ref>
[http://domainincite.com/beckstrom-next-icann-ceo-should-be-an-outsider/ Beckstrom: next ICANN CEO should be an outsider]</ref>
Prior to Beckstrom's statement, the ICANN Board already decided that the designated members of the CEO Search Committee will rule out anyone who is current or incoming member of the Board or liaisons as possible candidates to succeed Beckstrom during the CEO selection process.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-11oct11-en.htm#2 Approved Board Resolutions | Special Meeting of the ICANN Board]</ref>
At the December 8, 2011 meeting of the board, they voted to reimburse each director 35,000 annually, which was seen as a direct response to complaints made by the aforementioned parties.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/12/13/icann-board-dec-minutes ICANN Board Dec Minutes, News.dot-nxt.com]</ref>
===Comments on the New gTLD Expansion Program===
===Comments on the New gTLD Expansion Program===
Secretary Strickling's letter to ICANN is available [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf here].
Secretary Strickling's letter to ICANN is available [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf here].
===Stronger Decision Making Model===
While still supporting the organization, Secretary Strickling called on ICANN to make a stronger consensus making model so as to limit the number of complaints that skip the process and appeal directly to the ICANN Board. This could be read as a criticism of the amount of attention and overall affect that the [[ANA|Association of National Advertisers]] had on the ICANN process when it started an anti-gTLD expansion campaign against the Board and the U.S. Government. Secretary Strickling says it is not healthy for the ICANN Board to pick winners and losers and that the debates need to happen in the bottom tiers of the multi-stakeholder model.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/strickling-says-icann-needs-a-stronger-bottom/ Strickling says ICANN needs a Stronger Bottom, DomainIncite.com]</ref>
===October, 2012, Follow-up===
On October 4, 2012, a week prior to the start of [[ICANN 45|ICANN's 45th meeting]] in Toronto, Sec. Larry Strickling followed up his January 2012 letter to ICANN. He first noted that NTIA had noticed recent progress within the organization citing the progress on incorporating the law enforcement concerns via the [[GAC]] within negotiations for a new [[Registrar Accreditation Agreement]]; the recent announcement that the Contract Compliance Division will now report directly to the [[ICANN CEO]]; and the possibility of moving quickly on recommendations from the [[Whois Review Team]]. He stressed that implementation of the latter item was important.
However, Sec. Strickling also notes [[NTIA]]'s concerns over the limited progress over [[Trademark Clearinghouse]] and the [[Uniformed Rapid Suspension]] (URS) policy. Larry Strickling noted that ICANN has issued an update on the clearinghouse and a request for information searching for a URS services provider. NTIA encouraged ICANN to continue to allow stakeholders to evaluate and provide input on the the information presented by the applicants. It stressed that the URS was originally envisioned as an effective and low-cost alternative to the [[UDRP]], and encouraged ICANN to ensure that cost concerns were kept in mind throughout their evaluation process.NTIA also encouraged ICANN to not stop at the [[Intellectual Property]] mechanisms as is, but continue to explore other ways of ensuring that trademarks and brands remain safe within the landscape of current and new TLDs.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/strickling-to-crocker-04oct12-en Strickling to Crocker, ICANN.org]</ref>
===December 2012, Follow-up===
On December 2nd, 2012, the US government issued a statement in support of [[ICANN]], signed by Larry Strickling, Julius Genachowski of the [[FCC]], and Phillip L. Verveer of the State Department. They stated: "The Internet’s decentralized, multistakeholder processes enable us all to benefit from the engagement of all interested parties. By encouraging the participation of industry, civil society, technical and academic experts, and governments from around the globe, multistakeholder processes result in broader and more creative problem solving. This is essential when dealing with the Internet, which thrives through the cooperation of many different parties... Our commitment to the multistakeholder model is based on the fact that transparency, inclusion and participation are the 21st century standards governing discussions related to modern communications. This is a view shared by many around the world and was most recently reiterated by a statement of civil society members and groups from around the world who participated in the “Best Bits” pre-[[IGF|Internet Governance Forum]] (IGF) meeting held earlier this month in Baku, Azerbaijan. The U.S. Government wishes to lend its support to the spirit of the recommendations contained in the statement."<ref>[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/12/02/on-eve-of-start-of-the-itu-meeting-in-dubai-the-us-makes-issues-a-statement-in-support-of-icann/ On Eve Of Start of The ITU Meeting In Dubai, The US Makes Issues A Statement In Support of ICANN], TheDomains.com. Published 2 December 2012.</ref>
==Principles of Internet Governance==
On January 11, 2012, Strickling talked about the Principles of Internet Governance in a session hosted by Darrell West and the Brookings Institution. In his speech, he highlighted the fact that the Internet is a marvelous engine for economic growth and innovation. He also emphasized that the adoption of the multistakeholder model in global internet policy making by [[OECD|Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]] (OECD) was a major achievement in 2011. He pointed out that the success of the Internet today is a result of the hard work of multistakeholder organizations such as the [[IETF|Internet Engineering Task Force]] (IETF) and the [[W3C|World Wide Web Consortium]] (W3C). Sec. Strickling explained that these organizations succeeded in resolving issues related to the rapidly evolving Internet in a speedy and flexible manner because they apply the principles of the multistakeholder process- that is inclusiveness and openness. He also discussed the challenges to the model apparent in ICANN's decision to implement the [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD expansion program]] after six years of development with global Internet stakeholders. Some entities did no accept the result of the process and sought unilateral action from the U.S. government to bypass ICANN's decision. Mr. Strickling said that he is aware of all the concerns raised by some members of the industry regarding the possibility of failure due to unintended and unforeseen consequences of the program. In response to these concerns, the assistant secretary said that he urged ICANN to resolve the issues raised by the industry, including the perceived need for defensive applications; to improve its communication with stakeholders and new gTLD applicants; consider a phased implementation of new gTLDs if necessary; consider the possibility of implementing additional protections by new gTLD operators; implement a stronger [[RAA|Registrar Accreditation Agreement]] (RAA); and improving the current [[Whois]] policy. Furthermore, Strickling strongly pointed out ''"What I did not do was demand that ICANN abandon its multistakeholder processes to deal with these concerns."'' He said that the call to overturn ICANN's multistakeholder process will affect Internet governance around the world and it would mean giving "ammunition" to other countries that are pushing for an Internet controlled by governments. Once again, Strickling encouraged all Internet stakeholders to step up and support a free and open Internet and multistakeholder process to ensure the future success of the Internet governance.<ref>
[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/speechtestimony/2012/remarks-assistant-secretary-strickling-brookings-institutions-center-technology Remarks by Lawrence E. Strickling, Principles of Internet Governance: An Agenda for Economic Growth and Innovation]</ref>
==Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights==
In February 2012, the United States government introduced the proposed "Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights" as part of the Obama Administration's commitment to protect the personal data privacy of its citizens and to provide a clear guideline for companies on how to collect, use and protect the personal information provided by consumers online. Sec. Strickling strongly advocated the development of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. The NTIA together with the Internet Policy Task Force, which was created by [[DOC]] Sec. [[Gary Locke]], worked almost two years to develop the data privacy plans. According to Sec. Strickling, the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights is composed of ''"short statements of principles that will not have a lot of definition and regulation around them."'' The NTIA secretary is hopeful that Congress will enact the proposed legislation. He also said that ''"the privacy rules was the first time that the U.S. government actively applied the [[Multistakeholder Model|multistakeholder model]] in policy development."'' Furthermore, he said that all internet stakeholders will be invited to participate in building the appropriate rules around the seven consumer rights stipulated in the bill, which include individual control, transparency, respect of context, security, access and accuracy, focused collection and accountability.<ref>
[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2012/02/27/usg-privacy-plans US data privacy: the hard work begins]</ref> <ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/23/we-can-t-wait-obama-administration-unveils-blueprint-privacy-bill-rights We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Unveils Blueprint for a “Privacy Bill of Rights” to Protect Consumers Online]</ref>
On March 16, 2012, Sec. Strickling testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation regarding the state of online consumer privacy. He highlighted the fact that the NTIA, the DOC Internet Policy Task Force led by Sec. Gary Locke, and Executive branch worked hard for nearly two years in developing the current consumer data privacy policy framework. He informed the members of the Senate committee that a large number of Internet stakeholders contributed their views and opinions regarding the Green Paper on Consumer Data Privacy published by the Task Force. He pointed out that stronger privacy protections for consumers and clearer rules for companies on how to use the consumer data are necessary to strengthen consumer trust. He emphasized that Internet stakeholders express strong support for consumer data privacy legislation. He encouraged the legislators to support and enact the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights to enhance online privacy and security.<ref>
[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/speechtestimony/2011/testimony-assistant-secretary-strickling-regarding-state-online-consumer-privac Testimony of Assistant Secretary Strickling Regarding the State of Online Consumer Privacy]</ref>
==Education==
==Education==
* B.A. Economics- University of Maryland College Park (1969-1973)
* B.A. Economics- University of Maryland College Park (1969-1973)
* J.D. Law- Harvard Law School (1973–1976)
* J.D. Law- Harvard Law School (1973–1976)
==Publications==
* [http://www.domainpulse.com/2012/05/07/ensuring-an-open-internet-by-lawrence-strickling-philip-verveer-and-daniel-weitzner/ Ensuring an Open Internet by Lawrence Strickling, Philip Verveer, and Daniel Weitzner]
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:People]]
[[Category:Former Government Workers]]
[[Category:Policy Advisors]]