Web hosting company Network Solutions, recently presented to the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Telecommunications and Internet Administration (NTIA), in Washington, DC.

The meeting was held to review the mid-term Joint Project Agreement (JPA) between the DOC and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The NTIA consulted with several interested stakeholders regarding the mid-term review, including representatives from the Internet Society, government, business, registries and users, but Network Solutions was the only registrar invited to share insights at the hearing. Signed by ICANN on September 29, 2006, the JPA outlines a three-year term with a required mid-term review of ICANN's progress in meeting the responsibilities to transition the Internet's Domain Name System to a more autonomous existence under ICANN's governance.

Jonathon Nevett, Vice President and Chief Policy Counsel for Network Solutions, represented Network Solutions and provided comments on ICANN's progress from a registrar's perspective.

"While we applaud the DOC, NTIA and ICANN for their leadership and efforts to improve the Domain Name System, Network Solutions strongly believes that it is premature to conclude that ICANN has fully met the requirements of the JPA," said Mr. Nevett.