Extracts from the Dept of Commerce - ICANN MOU/JPA related to the root servers and system(1)
"In the DNS Project, the Parties will jointly design, develop, and test the mechanisms, methods, and procedures to carry out the following DNS management functions:
- Establishment of policy for and direction of the allocation of IP number blocks;
- Oversight of the operation of the authoritative root server system;
- Oversight of the policy for coordination of the DNS, including determining the circumstances under which new top level domains would be added to the root system; and
- Coordination of the assignment of other Internet technical parameters as needed to maintain universal connectivity on the Internet.