(Telecompaper) The US Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has approved the global internet multistakeholder community's proposal to transition the US government's stewardship role for the Internet domain systems (DNS) technical functions, known as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) functions. The announcement marks an important milestone in the US government's effort to transition the internet's domain name system and ensure that the internet remains a platform for innovation, economic growth, and free speech. NTIA said the transition proposal must have broad community backing and maintain the openness of the internet. The organisation said it would not accept a plan that replaced its role with a government-led or intergovernmental organization solution.