Maybe, just for one year, we can put aside CROPP and other project requests and just say to ICANN  that we'd like to use our resources to actually survey -- INDEPENDENTLY -- Internet end users?

Isn't that the best possible -- and most mission-relevant -- outreach we can do? Just think of how much money they're saving on ALAC travel this year. Let's put that to use.

I don't even care if ICANN insists on sourcing the polling contractor to get the best deal. But we get to pick the questions and audience, and we get first and full access to the results.

Other than that, maybe a joint venture with ISOC or a foundation come to mind, But the latter won't be easy. Any outside org will see ICANN swimming in money and wonder (with justification) why one of its bylaw-defined constituent bodies needs to be resourced from the outside.