U.S. govt renews ties with ICANN for Web domains By Joel Rothstein/Wed Sep 20, 10:58 AM ET/ The U.S. Commerce Department said on Wednesday it would renew its relationship with ICANN, the company that manages the Internet domain name system, beyond September 30, the date at which a separation had been expected. "We are working with ICANN to negotiate the next phase of our continued partnership," John Kneuer, acting assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information, said in prepared testimony at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the future of ICANN. The U.S. government controls the naming system for ".com" and other Web addresses through ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a not-for-profit company that decides what names can be registered. Some foreign critics have urged the U.S. government to give up its control of ICANN, saying it has too much influence over what is now a global commerce, communications and social engine. The European Commission accused U.S. officials of political interference several months ago in rejecting a proposed ".xxx" Internet domain for pornography Web sites, a new address that supporters said would help confine and filter such sites. On September 30, the existing memorandum of understanding between ICANN and the Commerce Department will expire but the government has the option to extend its control. The Commerce Committee was also scheduled to hear testimony on ICANN's future from Federal Trade Commissioner Jon Leibowitz.