House Approves Senate Resolution to Keep Internet Free of UN Control

By David Tobia
December 7, 2012

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a Senate resolution introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida) asking the U.S. government to oppose United Nations Internet control.
The legislation was introduced in anticipation of the UN conference on telecommunications, where some speculate an updated international telecom treaty could allow for United Nations control of the Internet.
The 397-0 vote shows the overwhelming bipartisan support against such legislation.
“I think that we are all very, very proud that there is not only bipartisan, but bicameral support underlying this resolution, and there is complete support across the Executive Branch of our government,” said Representative Anna Eshoo (D-California). “In other words, the United States of America is totally unified on this issue of an open structure, a multi-stakeholder approach that has guided the Internet over the last two decades.”
“The 193 member countries of the United Nations are gathered to consider whether to apply to the Internet a regulatory regime that the International Telecommunications Union created in the 1980s for old-fashioned telephone service,” added Representative Greg Walden (R-Oregon).

No Comments Yet