NTIA Further NOI re the IANA Function

Originally, according to lore, Jon Postel kept track of all IP-address block assignments in a paper notebook. Keeping track of IP Address assignments from the full address pool came to be known as the Internet Assigned Number Authority. In the late 1990s, when the Department of Commerce released the White Paper and began the process of privatizing and institutionalizing Internet governance, it entered into a contract with the newly formed Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to perform the IANA function. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the Department of Commerce is now in the process of "enhancing the performance of the IANA functions."

Federal Register Notice: Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) Functions Further Notice of Inquiry: NTIA is seeking public comment on a draft statement of work, a key element of the procurement process for the new IANA functions contract. (471 KB PDF) Posted June 10, 2011

SUMMARY: Critical to the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) is the continued performance of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions. The IANA functions have historically included: (1) the coordination of the assignment of technical Internet protocol parameters; (2) the administration of certain responsibilities associated with Internet DNS root zone management; (3) the allocation of Internet numbering resources; and (4) other services related to the management of the ARPA and INT top-level domains (TLDs). The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) currently performs the IANA functions, on behalf of the United States Government, through a contract with United States Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). On February 25, 2011, NTIA released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to obtain public comment on enhancing the performance of the IANA functions. NTIA received comments from a range of stakeholders: governments, private sector entities, and individuals. After careful consideration of the record, NTIA is now seeking public comment through a Further Notice of Inquiry (FNOI) on a draft statement of work (Draft SOW), a key element of the procurement process for the new IANA functions contract.

DATES: Comments are due on or before [insert 45 days after publication in the Federal Register].

COMMENTS: Comments may be submitted electronically to IANAFunctionsFNOI@ntia.doc.gov. Comments provided via electronic mail should be submitted in a text searchable format using one of the following: PDF print-to-PDF format, and not in a scanned format, HTML, ASCII, MSWord or WordPerfect format (please specify version).

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