US rebuffs ICANN bid to manage key internet functions

The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration has put ICANN on notice, indirectly stating that it is no longer fit to deliver the new Internet Assigned Numbers Authority functions proposed by the global community.

With the IANA contract expiring, NTIA, an agency of the US Department of Commerce, consulted the public on what would be necessary in a renewed contract and, following this feedback, released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new IANA functions contract.

In a surprise move at the weekend, the NTIA cancelled the RFP process, stating that "we received no proposals that met the requirements requested by the global community", which would include ICANN's own proposal. While the NTIA considers ICANN's proposal to be insufficient, it has essentially told ICANN to come back with a better response.

For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see US loses confidence in ICANN on ZDNet Australia.