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“How The US House Saved The Internet”

FUNDING BLOCKED FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S ASSAULT ON FIRST AMENDMENT … By ROBERT ROMANO  ||  “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to relinquish the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during fiscal year 2015 with respect to Internet domain name system functions, including…

FUNDING BLOCKED FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S ASSAULT ON FIRST AMENDMENT …

By ROBERT ROMANO  ||  “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to relinquish the responsibility of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration during fiscal year 2015 with respect to Internet domain name system functions, including responsibility with respect to the authoritative root zone file and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions.”

That is section 540 of the more than $1 trillion omnibus spending bill for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2015, which defunds the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) from transitioning Internet governance to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

The provision mirrors a 229-178 House vote on May 30 that denied funding to the Obama administration to perform the transition.  That amendment was offered by Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) to the Department of Commerce appropriations bill.

Now it is going to become law, which will undoubtedly mean that, once adopted by the House and Senate, NTIA will have to renew its current contract with ICANN for another two years.

It will be the first assertion of Congressional prerogative over Internet governance since 1998, when Congress defunded the National Science Foundation’s administration the system in a rider to the Foundation’s appropriations: “That none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Science Foundation in this or any prior Act may be obligated or expended by the National Science Foundation to enter into or extend a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement for the support of administering the domain name and numbering system of the Internet after September 30, 1998.”

Including the Duffy rider in the omnibus might be the only way to keep First Amendment protections on Internet governance. As a U.S. government contractor, ICANN cannot engage in censorship. Freed of the contract and government oversight, which expires on September 30, 2015, and it would have become a real possibility.

This is a huge deal. No less so than because under the Article IV of the Constitution, only “Congress shall have power to dispose of … property belonging to the United States,” which the Commerce Department contract with ICANN enumerates: “All deliverables under this contract become the property of the U.S. Government.”

(To continue reading this piece, press the “Read More …” icon below).

Robert Romano is the Senior Editor of Americans for Limited Government.  This piece (reprinted with permission) originally appeared on NetRightDaily.com.

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24 comments

Buz Martin December 10, 2014 at 10:27 am

Yeah, but how about them cans on that Emily Ratajkowki, huh?

Says right up there, between the story and the comments, “You may like.” They sure got that right.

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God Bless USA December 10, 2014 at 11:01 am

Way to go Republicans. While the Democrats are performing treasonous acts you’re saving America!

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RogueElephant December 10, 2014 at 12:02 pm

The Great Opportunity Party—-Republ I CAN.

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jack December 10, 2014 at 3:57 pm

The Great Opportunity to Screw the Middle Class Party

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GrandTango December 10, 2014 at 11:06 am

Irony…The same GOP FITS hates…saved freedom of the Internet he claims he needs.

While the Liberal-Tarians sat STUPID and powerless…bit*#ing because some terrorist had to shave his beard for trial on mass murder…and calling it torture…

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Rocky December 10, 2014 at 11:11 am

Yeah, and it will allow providers like Comcast to stick the consumers with higher internet fees for high-speed service. Another corporate welfare give away wrapped in the “freedom” lion cloth soiled by Grand Tango.

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rocky the traitor December 10, 2014 at 11:16 am

Why not just move on your next trip overseas, loser? We need patriots in this country NOT socialist perverts that seek to topple this republic.

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Smirks December 10, 2014 at 11:28 am

Why not just move on your next trip overseas, loser?

Because staying here pisses you off more. :)

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Trailer Trash Park December 10, 2014 at 12:55 pm

So, just what is a patroit in your world view?

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Rocky The Patriot December 10, 2014 at 2:37 pm

I’d tel you to blow me, but after the job you did last night, I’m still tired.

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Rocky The Patriot December 10, 2014 at 2:48 pm

Nanananana – go play with yourself – McCain hater.

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GrandTango December 10, 2014 at 1:14 pm

Just like I could keep my doctor, under Obamacare, and it would cost less…right???

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Rocky December 10, 2014 at 2:38 pm

I kept my doctor, and this year my premiums went down. For people like you on Medicaid – I would think you’de be happy. And you probably got an EBT increase too.

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GrandTango December 10, 2014 at 3:14 pm

You’ve been caught. You and Obama LIED. Obamacare has crashed and burned….now STFU and quit making a Dumb@$$ of yourself….nobody is fooled.

Rocky saving on ACA December 10, 2014 at 3:36 pm

No I didn’t. Went from $576 to $567 – same policy, no change, same doctor. So cram you pie hole with more of your Mom’s mac’n’cheese. Does she cut your little steak up for you too?

GrandTango December 10, 2014 at 4:19 pm

Then you’re a Dumb@$$ for just posting it here. CNN, NBC, NYT, MSNBC, Discovery Channel, ABC, LAT, National Geographic, Al Jazzera and CBS are looking for the one person in America that did not get bent and reamed by Obamacare…according to you, you are it…

You are the most sought after media subject in the nation..cannot wait to see you on TV…please post when you are discovered by the media…You will be a star on the level of a Michael Brown…and his fame did him no good.

Dave Chappelle I'm Rick James December 10, 2014 at 11:13 am

I found it. This is my Christmas present for GT.

http://cheezburger.com/8397173760

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Smirks December 10, 2014 at 11:25 am

Err… Letting a contract expire requires funding?

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Jackie Chiles December 10, 2014 at 2:10 pm

Wait, aren’t libertarians opposed to government exercising authority over the internet? I’m pretty sure I remember debating some brain dead libertarians on here over Net Neutrality when they claimed that the government requiring internet carriers to transmit all information equally will eventually lead to Obama blocking Free Talk Live’s website from being up and running.

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Hyperbole FTW! December 10, 2014 at 2:11 pm

I don’t recall any brain dead libertarians saying that, maybe you misunderstood the argument.

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Jackie Chiles December 10, 2014 at 4:03 pm

I do remember Fits being opposed to net neutrality.

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Hyperbole FTW! December 10, 2014 at 7:46 pm

I was refering to this statement of yours:

“when they claimed that the government requiring internet carriers to
transmit all information equally will eventually lead to Obama blocking
Free Talk Live’s website”

Reply
Jack December 10, 2014 at 2:16 pm

You have got to be kidding. Do you really think the Kochsuckers in the Republican party would do anything that does not benefit big business?. Give me a break.

Reply
hlauther December 11, 2014 at 3:35 pm

This is a perfect example of poorly written editorial. Lots of words, but in the end you’re left asking, “Whhaaaat?”

Reply

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