The internet has blossomed into an information superhighway, communication medium, new business market, and much more in a decade and a half. Under ICANN, it has been challenged as US dominated, and a threat to cultures around the world. The US has remained hands-off, however, with few exceptions. Competition has been established in the domain registration market, “resulting in a lowering of domain name costs by 80% and saving consumers and businesses over US$1 billion annually in domain registration fees” (ICANN Information). The internet has also remained impressively stable, which is quite an accomplishment considering its rapid rate of growth.

In the hands of the United Nations, the internet would face a major threat – censorship. Countries and world leaders would be able to use the power currently possessed by ICANN to control not only what is shown in their respective countries, but what is seen in other countries as well. America’s freedom of speech could become limited by foreign powers. It is important that the United States does not relinquish its valuable asset, which is a crucial tool, especially when considering the declining economic power of the US.

It is equally important though, that the US protects its valuable asset, but does not let itself or others influence it. The internet needs to remain as free a realm as possible, and in America it should not face any restrictions that are not also on newspapers and other literary publishing as well. With individual government regulating the internet of their respective countries, ICANN does not have to act as any sort of regulatory agent. Hopefully the future years will yield an ICANN without significant government influence, and most importantly, an unrestricted internet realm.