On Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 3:59 PM Judith Hellerstein via NA-Discuss < na-discuss@icann.org> wrote:
As we all know, the Internet’s unique identifier system is defined by IETF standards, and IETF participants bring technical expertise into ICANN's multistakeholder governance processes.
IETF meetings also have a very diverse audience involving corporate, government, academic and public participation. They just don't call it "multistakeholder" because the model isn't heavily silo'd or bureaucratic; a triumph of meritocracy over money or politics (usually). Beyond pure technical expertise, ICANN has much to learn from IETF's approach to governance -- especially with regards to public participation -- on Internet matters including but well beyond just identifiers. And it does all this with an annual budget one-eleventh that of ICANN's, so it is not financially dependent on the technologies it defines or maintains. Plus ... there is much to recommend in decision-making by humming. - Evan