Senator wants ICANN hearings

The actions of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) are again attracting the attention of Washington lawmakers. Calling ICANN a "fundamentally flawed and ineffective governing entity," Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., is asking for more hearings into the body charged with administering domain names. In a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., Burns also tried bringing in the issue of national safety, asking whether ICANN should "be tasked with such a critical mission." ICANN, which received a barrage of criticism since its inception, came under fire most recently when the group's president, Stuart Lynn, proposed replacing board members from the public with government officials.