Judge rejects AG's attempt keep internet address book under U.S. control

GALVESTON -- A federal judge on Friday rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's attempt to block an Obama administration plan to allow a contract with a nonprofit that manages the internet's address book to expire.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. turned down the request by Paxton and attorneys general from Arizona, Oklahoma and Nevada, saying they had relied on "hearsay" about possible repercussions of the contract's expiration. The case, he ruled, lacked enough evidence to convince the court that harm would come from giving up oversight of the nonprofit.

The issue, which has garnered attention from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Attorney General Ken Paxton, concerns fears that the federal government's decision to let a contract with the non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers expire could jeopardize government websites. ICANN manages the internet domain naming system, which is what allows users to locate websites.

The contract expires at midnight Friday.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Judge-to-rule-on-internet-freedom-fight-9517421.php