I hope the information Roberto received was accurate, but notwithstanding my distaste for the final step of redelegation(USG approval), I should say that in all fairness the first six steps of redelegation process have been very helpful in establishing stability and preventing arbitrary and frequent redelegations. Time was when with any change of government in some countries a minor or major officer of telecommunications ministry decided to attempt a redelegation. The lengthy process has helped usher in due process and systematization of ccTLD-Govt relations in many countries. In the final analysis, the governments always have the power to bring about a change of ccTLD operator, but the process gives them an opportunity to pause and ponder. Siavash, .IR ccTLD
ICANN operates IANA under a contract with the USDOC. I realize that there are people who wish it were otherwise, but that's the structure that exists today, and the USDOC has made it quite clear that it's not going to change any time soon.
OTOH, for the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that up to now there has been no interference by USDOC. About a year ago I had a discussion with the then Undersecretary John Kneuer, head of the NTIA, and he pointed out that USG has not even opposed the delegation of the ccTLD for North Korea, which shows that their approach is rather "hands off". Of course, this does not mean that they are prepared to relinquish their role in the approval chain.
Cheers, Roberto
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