Milton, Mathieu & Colleagues,
Some thoughts in relation to this topic:
First, having read Milton’s email below, I can’t see that I disagree with any of it and it’s unfortunate if my wording from the Frankfurt meeting does appear to do so or is taken to mean that I do.
With regard to where I believe we are currently in the work of the IANA transition CWG, and recognising that this is still work in progress, I see the following critical accountability levers:
1. Operational accountability. This will be driven at the first level by the IANA Customer Steering Committee and, to the extent that this Committee does not achieve satisfactory outcomes, can be escalated to the (Multistakeholder) IANA Periodic Review Team.
2. Overall performance accountability. This will be monitored by the IANA Periodic Review Team, both periodically and on an ad-hoc basis (in response to escalation from the IANA Customer Steering Committee) and the ultimate sanction of this group is twofold:
a. The ability to terminate the contract mid-term (to the extent that such contractual provisions are written into the contract)
b. The ability to contract with a new provider at the term of the contract (consistent with the contract and with processes to be determined by the IANA Periodic Review Team).
Notwithstanding the above substantial accountability levers, there is the issue highlighted from the Charter of the CWG by Milton i.e. as follows:
“The IANA stewardship transition process is taking place alongside a parallel and related process on enhancing ICANN accountability. While maintaining the accountability of Internet identifier governance is central to both processes, this group’s scope is focused on the arrangements required for the continuance of IANA functions in an accountable and widely accepted manner after the expiry of the NTIA-ICANN contract. Nevertheless, the two processes are interrelated and interdependent and should appropriately coordinate their work.”
Considering the above, I believe that the work of the IANA Stewardship CWG to date, is largely on track in relation to the following charter provision:
“ … this group’s scope is focused on the arrangements required for the continuance of IANA functions in an accountable and widely accepted manner after the expiry of the NTIA-ICANN contract … ”
However, I believe we do need more work here:
“Nevertheless, the two processes are interrelated and interdependent and should appropriately coordinate their work.”
And it is this second point which now needs to be picked up as a matter of urgency and I’d welcome any guidance on this. One factor in doing so is that the Accountability CWG has only very recently had its charter approved by the chartering organisations.
Finally, please note the reference in the Chair’s Statement from the Frankfurt meeting to the IANA Stewardship Charter and drawing attention to the point of this email exchange as follows:
The Cross Community Working Group (CWG) on Naming Related Functions met for a face-to-face in Frankfurt, Germany on 19 – 20 November 2014. The highly diverse CWG is one of the three groups submitting a proposal to the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) as part of the overall IANA Stewardship Transition process. As noted in the CWG Charter, the IANA stewardship transition process is taking place alongside a parallel and related process on enhancing ICANN accountability.
I look forward to further input, discussion and guidance in any event, and especially if my understanding outlined above is inconsistent with that of others.
Thanks,
Jonathan
From: Mathieu Weill [mailto:mathieu.weill@afnic.fr]
Sent: 21 November 2014 09:15
To: cwg-stewardship@icann.org
Subject: Re: [CWG-Stewardship] scope and accountability
Dear Milton, Dear colleagues,
As one of the co-chairs of the drafting team for the accountability cross community working group, this message has obviously drawn my attention. Milton, you raise an issue about the inter-relation between the two tracks, but I must admit I have difficulties understanding both what triggered the discussion and what the actual consequences might be. This is of course because I have neither been in Frankfurt nor managed to read all the transcripts.
Could anyone be kind enough to point me to the relevant parts of the transcript ?
Best
Mathieu
Le 21/11/2014 00:15, Milton L Mueller a écrit :