Thanks Robert, I agree we need to address what "bottom-up" means, and to square the reasonable expectations of at-large's individual Internet users with those of ICANN. Especially on budgeting and staffing matters, At-Large is often pulled both ways -- blamed for costing ICANN thousands of dollars, but given no control over the allocation of that funding or staff attention to matters of concern to its users or data-gathering. While in Frankfurt, I've had the chance to talk with board members and staff alike who suggest that these are more problems of misunderstanding than bad intention -- so let's arrange some meetings in LA to discuss how we can work more collaboratively between the "bottom" and "top." I'd particularly like to push forward discussion of an at-large summit, since that's proposed as an opportunity for individuals and their groups' representatives to discuss ICANN matters of concern across regional borders. --Wendy Robert Guerra wrote:
There's been some discussion about bottom-up processes and how they are done both at ICANN and elsewhere.
Activists, Civil Society and/or NGO's tend to have a far broader interpretation of bottom-up consultation processes. Ongoing communication, engagement and attempt at consensus is one model - imposing a process and outcome a-priori is another model.
Where does ALAC stand? Does it agree with the staff position or does it instead favor those put forward by CIRA, NCUC and others ?
ref: http://cira.ca/news-releases/201.html
It seems to me that public statements from ICANN - both at meetings and on several lists - seem to indicate that there's a bit of a gulf between how ICANN and ALAC. But, that' just my reading of the situation. Perhaps i'm wrong .. ?
Instead of getting into a debate about how things have, or not , been done in the past - let me suggest we address the issue head on at our upcoming LA ALAC meeting.
regards,
Robert --- Robert Guerra <rguerra@privaterra.ca> Managing Director, Privaterra Tel +1 416 893 0377
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-- Wendy Seltzer -- wendy@seltzer.org phone: +1.914.374.0613 // office: 617.373.7331 Visiting Professor, Northeastern University School of Law Fellow, Berkman Center for Internet & Society http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/seltzer.html http://www.chillingeffects.org/ http://www.torproject.org/