Internet related headlines and news. For more information visit: http://internetgovernancepanel.org/resources

1. News Digest | March 16 - 31
E. Mershon and J. Meyers, “Internet transition triggers GOP backlash” Politico (March 15, 2014).
Available at http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/internet-transition-triggers-gop-backlash-104698.html
• The Obama administration’s decision to relinquish oversight over the group that manages the
Internet’s architecture has raised an early red flag with Republicans, who blast the move as a
threat to free speech.
M. Berkens, “VeriSign Issues Statement on ICANN’s Move & is Down over 5% in Pre-Market” The
Domains (March 17, 2014). Available at http://www.thedomains.com/2014/03/17/verisign-issues-statement-
on-icanns-move-is-down-over-5-in-pre-market/comment-page-1/
• Reports that VeriSign has provided a statement on the NTIA’s announcement.
The New York Times Editorial Board, “Updating Internet Governance” New York Times (March 18,
2014). Available at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/opinion/updating-internet-
governance.html?hp&rref=opinion&_r=1
• Efforts to change the system should be viewed skeptically, especially when they come from
governments that do not respect the freedom of expression.
K. Tummarello, “House panel to examine Internet governance” The Hill (March 18, 2014). Available at
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/201126-house-panel-to-examine-internet-governance
• The House Commerce Committee will hold a hearing in April to examine the Obama
administration's recent move to relinquish oversight.
The Times editorial board “Who should run the Internet?” The Los Angeles Times (March 18, 2014).
Available at http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-internet-ntia-icann-
20140318,0,4034597.story#axzz2wKlm94hn
• A risky step, but if done right, may actually reduce the risk that governments will impose rules
that fracture the Internet.
L. Crovitz, “America’s Internet Surrender” The Wall Street Journal (March 18, 2014). Available at
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303563304579447362610955656?mod=WSJ_Opini
on_LEADTop&mg=reno64-wsj
• By unilaterally retreating from online oversight, the White House pleased regimes that want to
control the Web.
• Response article here: J. Eger, “The Government’s Move on the Internet is the Right One”
The Wall Street Journal (March 23, 2014). Available at
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303802104579453083272018354?KEYWO
RDS=icann&mg=reno64-
wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB1000142405270230380210457945308
3272018354.html%3FKEYWORDS%3Dicann
“Opinion: Playing Politics With the Internet?” Wall Street Journal Live (March 20, 2014). Available at
http://live.wsj.com/video/opinion-playing-politics-with-the-internet/07EAFFF9-EE64-4ABA-BD0F-
40F4018973A4.html#!07EAFFF9-EE64-4ABA-BD0F-40F4018973A4
• Video: Hudson Institute visiting fellow Robert McDowell on the White House’s decision to relinquish
its control of key Internet infrastructure.
B. Schaefer, J. Gattuso, P. Rosenzweig, and D. Inserra, “Important Work to Be Done Before the U.S.
Relinquishes Stewardship of ICANN” The Heritage Foundation (March 21, 2014). Available at

2. http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/03/important-work-to-be-done-before-the-us-relinquishes-
stewardship-of-icann
• American leadership is vital to sustaining Internet freedom.
Amb. D. Sepulveda and L. Strickling, “Celebrating and Protecting the Global Internet” Bloomberg
BNA (March 21, 2014). Available at http://www.bna.com/celebrating-protecting-global-b17179889025/
• The U.S. government, working through the NTIA has played a critical role in the stewardship of the
Internet’s DNS, but now is the time to transition that role, based on the success and maturation of
the multistakeholder system, and in response to demands from around the world.
“Doing the ICANN-can” The Economist (March 22, 2014). Available at
http://www.economist.com/news/international/21599385-america-promises-release-its-grip-internets-phone-
bookand-opens-up-debate
• America’s role in administering the Internet’s phone book is a wonkish delight, but also highly
symbolic.
“As the U.S. government relinquishes control, who should oversee the Web?” PBS NewsHour (March
24, 2014). Available at http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/who-should-oversee-the-web/#the-rundown
• Video interview: Vint Cerf of Google and Randolph May of the Free State Foundation join Judy
Woodruff to offer debate.
J. Zittrain, “No, Barack Obama Isn’t Handing Control of the Internet Over to China” New Republic
(March 24, 2014). Available at http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117093/us-withdraws-icann-why-its-no-
big-deal
• The difference between owned and unowned technologies and the misguided freakout over
ICANN.
A. Boadle, “Brazil’s anti-spy Internet bill clears lower house vote” Reuters (March 26, 2014). Available
at http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/03/26/uk-brazil-internet-idUKBREA2P08220140326
• Brazil’s lower chamber of Congress approved groundbreaking legislation on Tuesday aimed at
guaranteeing equal access to the Internet and protecting the privacy of its users in the wake of
U.S. spying revelations