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| Senator Coleman opposed to UN control of Al Gore's Internet |
| 2005-08-02 |
| Drudge. Use appropriate caution. Emphasis added Washington, D.C.-Senator Norm Coleman today submitted a statement into the Congressional Record denouncing a final report issued by the United Nations' Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) suggesting that the U.N. assume global governance of the Internet. Since its inception and creation in the United States, the U.S. has assumed the historic role of overseeing the Internet's growth and has overseen its development. The U.N. taskforce report suggests that in addition to terminating the U.S.'s leadership role, the authority and functions of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organization overseen by the U.S. Department of Commerce, should be transferred as well. Senator Coleman strongly opposes these measures. "My probe of the U.N. as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations revealed management that was at best, incompetent, and at worst corrupt," said Coleman. "The first priority for the United Nations must be fundamental reform of its management and operations rather than any expansion of its authority and responsibilities. The Internet has flourished under U.S. supervision, oversight, and private sector involvement. This growth did not happen because of increased government involvement, but rather, from the opening on the Internet to commerce and private sector innovation. Subjecting the Internet and its security to the politicized control of the UN bureaucracy would be a giant and foolhardy step backwards." Can I get an "Amen!" brothers? "Recently, I introduced UN reform legislation with the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations, Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN), known as the Coleman-Lugar UN Reform Bill, to help put an end to a culture of corruption that was exposed by the Oil for Food scandal, peacekeeping sexual abuse scandals, and other instances of organizational failures at U.N.," Coleman said. "Putting the U.N. in charge of one of the world's most important technological wonders and economic engines is out of the question. This proposal would leave the United States with no more say over the future of the Internet than Cuba or China-countries that have little or no commitment to the free flow of information." The WGIG taskforce report will be discussed at the next World Summit on the Information Society Tunisia in November. "In light of this report, I also plan to consult with experts and stakeholders regarding Internet governance, and will assess whether legislation is needed as a remedy," Coleman continued. "The U.S. is willing to work with other countries that have an interest in the management of their own country code domains but UN control is out of the question. We will continue a dialogue with the rest of the world on these issues as we go forward." Minnesotans should be proud. |
| Posted by:Jackal |
#5 Sen. Coleman "Putting the U.N. in charge of one of the world's most important technological wonders and economic engines is out of the question. This proposal would leave the United States with no more say over the future of the Internet than Cuba or China-countries that have little or no commitment to the free flow of information." I think this is one of those "Bottom Line" moments so rare in the Senate... I think the good Senator is telling Kofi to F-Off! I like it! |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-08-02 12:17 |
| #4 The OIF would look like pocket change. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-08-02 12:16 |
| #3 Trying to steal from the little red hen AGAIN. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-08-02 12:02 |
| #2 Hands off please Kofi. No need to expand the UN's areas of incompetency at this juncture. |
| Posted by: MunkatKat 2005-08-02 10:56 |
| #1 An Amen from me! |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-08-02 10:47 |