Sen. Cruz to Chair Hearing on Protecting Internet Freedom

Next Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts, will convene a hearing titled ‘Protecting Internet Freedom: Implications of Ending U.S. Oversight of the Internet.’ The hearing will investigate the possible dangers of the Obama administration’s proposal to relinquish oversight of the Internet to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), scheduled to take place on October 1. ICANN is a global organization consisting of 162 countries, including authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, and Iran, which do not have a First Amendment right to free speech.

Sen. Cruz has championed efforts in the Senate to stop this Internet giveaway, including introducing the Protecting Internet Freedom Act in June with Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), which would prevent the Obama administration from relinquishing oversight of critical Internet functions and protect national security by ensuring that the United States maintains sole ownership of the .gov and .mil top-level domains.

Last week, Sen. Cruz also unveiled a new countdown clock site raising awareness of the looming September 30 deadline for Congress to take action to stop the administration’s transition. 

Wednesday, September 14
10:00 a.m. ET -- Washington, D.C.
Sen. Cruz chairs hearing
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Room 226

*Note: the hearing will be livestreamed here: http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/ 

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