Just to add on to this. The NTIA has never exercised much in the way of oversite/interference. The largest issue I can recall was they got involved when the .XX

Just to add on to this. The NTIA has never exercised much in the way of oversite/interference. The largest issue I can recall was they got involved when the .XXX tld was being implemented. As you say the actual running of ICANN/IANA and the internet at large is really managed under a multi stake holder model and is very inclusive and diversified. Arguments to the contrary are typically FUD.