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The US Commerce Department has announced it would keep its hold on the global internet domain system for at least another year.Assistant Commerce Secretary Lawrence Strickling wrote in a blog post Monday that the US government would renew its contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) until September 30, 2016.ICANN maintains the world's internet domains and is largely controlled by the US, an issue that has become a point of contention in recent years.Last year the Obama administration said it planned to transfer oversight of ICANN from the Commerce Department, which has managed it since 1998, to a global multi-stakeholder body, a move some Republican lawmakers have opposed.Strickling said the delay announced Monday is to allow members of the community need more time to create plans to transfer stewardship and have them reviewed and approved by the US government."This one-year extension will provide the community with the time it needs to finish its work," he said. The post also noted the contract could be extended for up to three additional years beyond that if needed.