Redl Promised Cruz, Lee He Would Convene 'Panel of Experts' to Explore Undoing IANA Transition
NTIA Administrator David Redl reportedly promised Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, during his confirmation process last year he would pursue convening of a “panel of experts to investigate options” for reversing the 2016 Internet Assigned Numbers Authority…
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transition, according to documents disclosed in response to a Politico Freedom of Information Act request. The news organization reported on the documents. Redl told Cruz and Lee in written responses to their questions following his June confirmation hearing he was “interested in exploring ways” to undo the IANA transition despite being unaware of any “specific proposals” that would achieve that goal. Cruz’s longstanding concerns about Redl’s public position that the federal government couldn't undo the switchover prompted delays last year of a Senate Commerce vote on Redl (see 1706280027, 1706280061, 1708020052 and 1708160034). Cruz placed a hold on Senate action after the committee advanced Redl in October on a voice vote (see 1710040063). He subsequently lifted his hold amid assurances from Redl. Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, placed his own temporary hold on Redl's nomination amid concerns about the then-nominee's communications with Cruz (see 1710230062 and 1710300028). Schatz lifted his hold in November after Redl assured him he wouldn't reverse his publicly held position on the IANA transition (see 1711070076 and 1711080015). An industry lobbyist told us Redl's promises to Cruz and Lee were unlikely to pose a threat to ICANN's full control over IANA, noting Redl's past assurances to Schatz. Redl also subsequently promised Schatz in writing that he would continue to support multistakeholder internet governance, the lobbyist said. Cruz's office and NTIA didn't comment.