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[[ICANN]] was created via actions by the U.S. Government in 1997; heretofore, the Internet was managed by the U.S. Department of Defense's [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA), the [[National Science Foundation]], and American universities and research institutions. On July 1st, 1997, [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]] directed the Secretary of Commerce to privatize the management of the [[DNS]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/022098fedreg.htm NTIA Green Paper]</ref> The goal was to open the Internet to greater international participation, and to bolster it as a new medium of commercial competition and exchange.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN DOC MoU]</ref>

[[ICANN]] was created via actions by the U.S. Government in 1997; heretofore, the Internet was managed by the U.S. Department of Defense's [[Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA), the [[National Science Foundation]], and American universities and research institutions. On July 1st, 1997, [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]] directed the Secretary of Commerce to privatize the management of the [[DNS]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/022098fedreg.htm NTIA Green Paper]</ref> The goal was to open the Internet to greater international participation, and to bolster it as a new medium of commercial competition and exchange.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN DOC MoU]</ref>

On November 25th, 1998, after a process of seeking input from concerned and knowledgeable parties, The U.S. [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] and ICANN entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ([[MoU]]),<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN MoU]</ref> which officially recognized ICANN as the entity that would manage the [[IANA]] contract. That contract is renewable, and thus, created an ongoing relationship between the U.S. Department of Commerce and consequently the U.S. Congress. Since the creation of ICANN, the U.S. Congress has had multiple interactions and hearings on the organization.

On November 25th, 1998, after a process of seeking input from concerned and knowledgeable parties, The U.S. [[DOC|Department of Commerce]] and ICANN entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ([[MoU]]),<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/icann-mou-25nov98.htm ICANN MoU]</ref> which officially recognized ICANN as the entity that would manage the [[IANA]] contract. That contract is renewable, and thus, created an ongoing relationship between the U.S. Department of Commerce and consequently the U.S. Congress. Since the creation of ICANN, the U.S. Congress has had multiple interactions and hearings on the organization.

==New gTLD Senate and House of Representatives Hearings==

===New gTLD Senate and House of Representatives Hearings===

On December 8, 2011 the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing, lobbied for by [[ANA]], regarding to ICANN's new [[gTLD]] program. Speakers included Senior Vice President of ICANN, [[Kurt Pritz]]; [[Fiona Alexander]], Associate Administrator of the Office of International Affairs at [[NTIA]]; [[Dan Jaffe]], Executive Vice President of Government Relations for ANA; [[Esther Dyson]], who served as ICANN's Founding Chairman (1998-2000), speaking as an independent investor; and Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the YMCA [[Angela Williams]], speaking on behalf of [[NPOC]].<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111208_us_senate_committee_holds_hearing_on_icanns_new_tld_expansion/  US Senate Committee Holds Hearing on ICANN's New TLD Expansion, circleid.com]</ref> Senate officials present included: Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.),<ref>[http://adage.com/article/digital/senate-implores-icann-slow-roll/231478/ Senate Implores ICANN to Slow Its Roll but Admits It Can't Do Anything to Stop It, adage.com]</ref> and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash).

On December 8, 2011 the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing, lobbied for by [[ANA]], regarding to ICANN's [[New gTLD Program]]. Speakers included Senior Vice President of ICANN, [[Kurt Pritz]]; [[Fiona Alexander]], Associate Administrator of the Office of International Affairs at [[NTIA]]; [[Dan Jaffe]], Executive Vice President of Government Relations for ANA; [[Esther Dyson]], who served as ICANN's Founding Chairman (1998-2000), speaking as an independent investor; and Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the YMCA [[Angela Williams]], speaking on behalf of [[NPOC]].<ref>[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20111208_us_senate_committee_holds_hearing_on_icanns_new_tld_expansion/  US Senate Committee Holds Hearing on ICANN's New TLD Expansion, circleid.com]</ref> Senate officials present included: Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.),<ref>[http://adage.com/article/digital/senate-implores-icann-slow-roll/231478/ Senate Implores ICANN to Slow Its Roll but Admits It Can't Do Anything to Stop It, adage.com]</ref> and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash).

Sen. Rockefeller stated his support of the new gTLD program, claiming that he believed it was pro-competition and pro-innovation, but that the roll-out should be slower and more cautious. He cited the potential for fraud, consumer confusion, and cybersquatting as massive, requiring a phased implementation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/notes-from-the-senate-new-gtlds-hearing/ Notes from the Senate new gTLDs hearing, domainincite.com]</ref>  

Sen. Rockefeller stated his support of the new gTLD program, claiming that he believed it was pro-competition and pro-innovation, but that the roll-out should be slower and more cautious. He cited the potential for fraud, consumer confusion, and cybersquatting as massive, requiring a phased implementation.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/notes-from-the-senate-new-gtlds-hearing/ Notes from the Senate new gTLDs hearing, domainincite.com]</ref>