The Subcommittee on Communications and Technology has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, April 2, 2014 on “Ensuring the Security, Stability, Resilience, and Freedom of the Global Internet.”

Witnesses testifying on the two panels are:

• Mr. Lawrence Strickling, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information, and Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Mr. Fadi Chehade, President and CEO, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
• Ambassador David Gross, Partner, Wiley Rein, LLP
• Mr. Steve DelBianco, Executive Director, NetChoice
• Ms. Carolina Rossini, Project Director, New America Foundation Open Technology Institute

Below are of some of the questions that may arise during the hearing:

• How will NTIA collect and assess proposals? Has a process been determined? Is there a timeline in place for a decision?
• Does transition of the IANA functions out of NTIA have implications for national security?
• How will NTIA ensure that any transition is smooth and does not affect the daily functioning of the Internet?
• What will be the result if NTIA does not receive a proposal that satisfies the criteria it set forth? Does NTIA plan to exercise the automatic option for renewal on the IANA contract if a satisfactory proposal is not received?
• What sort of multi-stakeholder community would be the ideal replacement for NTIA’s role in the IANA functions?
• What safeguards will be in place to prevent a future change that would allow for governments to seize control?
• What oversight role should Congress play to ensure a successful outcome?
• What will be the practical impact of this transition on Internet users and businesses that utilize the Internet for commerce?

The hearing webcast will be available at energycommerce.house.gov.