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Funding proposal for 1st EURALO board meeting in Geneva
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 22, 2008

Feb. 22, 2008

Dear Cheryl, Vanda, Annette Dear Nick, On our last Tel.Conf. in January the board of EURALO expected the User Summit happen next June in Paris. And in this context we decided to finally have our 1st (physical) board meeting after ICANN’s New Delhi meeting at the end of February in Geneva. The EURALO board was elected in May 07 and we planned to have our first board meeting in conjunction with (Wolfgang Kleinwächter’s) last Studienkreis Outreach meeting in October 07 in Warsaw. In August 07 we submitted an application for a rather modest funding for a one-day board meeting to ICANN which unfortunately was not approved. Please take into consideration that many of EURALO’s board members have never met each other so far what hampered the working dynamic considerably. And the recent ALAC-RALO meetings in Delhi proofed in a rather convincing way how important f2f meetings are for any constructive debates (not only) among volunteers. As some board member will come to Geneva in the context of the next IGF-consultation end of February, we thought that this offers another opportunity again to finally have a 1st EURALO board meeting in Geneva – -and presumably last meeting before ICANN’s 32nd meeting in Paris. Please note that the term of some of our board members expires at the end of may resp. in June at our 1st General Assembly. And we consider it as being completely inappropriate not having had a chance for at least one board meeting in between, which is also indispensable for the preparation of the EURALO meeting in Paris. As a first preliminary Agenda for this (1st) EURALO board meeting we suggested: (1) Briefing about ICANN’s New Delhi meeting (2) Options for a EURALO summit in Paris (3) Draft EURALO budget for the coming fiscal year (4) Planning for General Assembly in June 08 in Paris (5) Board elections at GA in June 08 in Paris (6) Other outreach activities foreseen (7) Miscellaneous The suggested funds for the EURALO board meeting the 25 February in Geneva are rather modest again. It just needs travel reimbursements for a part of the board members who are not coming to Geneva for the IGF-consultations anyhow. Travel / flight reimbursements EURO / US$ 2’000.— Hotel accommodation (if required) EURO / US$ 300.— Meal EURO / US$ 700.— Total EURO / US$ 3’000.— This meeting is necessary for a decent preparation of the EURALO/ALS meeting this summer in Paris as well. We are looking forward for a positive considerations and response to our funding proposal to make our EURALO board meeting a success. Kindest regards, Wolf Ludwig EURALO Chair comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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Re: [EURO-Discuss] EURALO Delhi report 4
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 15, 2008

Feb. 15, 2008

Hi Vittorio, I think there is principle agreement among us (EURALOs) and the US NGOs (NARALOS) that the main goal is / remains "no governmental oversight at all" by no government at ICANN. We are now just working on some preliminary statements bringing the CO-statement into this context again. There are interesting discussions going on here, whether the proclaimed independence is "premature *at the moment*" as long as ICANN is still in an transition process and nobody knows exactly which direction ICANN will presumably take in the future. Let's say it's an interesting peace for discussion and we would appreciate some more comments on it! Best, Wolf Vittorio Bertola wrote Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:05: >The statement, if I understand it correctly, seems to say that the JPA >with the US Government should not be terminated, at least for the >moment, and that ICANN should remain dependent from the USG. I >understand the concerns that lead to this position, but I do not think >that this is a position that the EURALO could support. I imagine that >big US NGOs think that they can have some leverage in Washington if >ICANN does something that they don't like, but we Europeans are not in >the same position, so unless the JPA is substituted with something that >gives to our governments the same degree of authority of the USG, I do >not think that we should support the continuation of this kind of >agreements - and even in that case, perhaps no governmental oversight at >all, even with the risks of reduced accountability, could still be a >better option. > >Ciao, >-- >vb. Vittorio Bertola - vb [a] bertola.eu <-------- >--------> finally with a new website at http://bertola.eu/ <-------- > >_______________________________________________ >EURO-Discuss mailing list >EURO-Discuss(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/euro-discuss_atlarge-lists.… > >Homepage for the region: http://www.euralo.org > comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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EURALO Delhi report 5
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 15, 2008

Feb. 15, 2008

Hi all, Yesterday (Thursday) morning we had our last Public Forum what provided another opportunity for reporting back from different Workshops and to exchange opinions on various subjects (new gTLDs, GNSO improvements and protection of registrants), that were discussed during the 31st ICANN meeting. Reports presented included the ALAC, SSAC, RSSAC, NomCom and Ombudsman. The Board committees posted their reports Online for review. Before the lunch brake there was the Signing Ceremony of the MoU between ICANN and the Organizations in the Asia Pacific Region accredited as At-Large structures (APRALO). Seven representatives from different ALSes across the region were present to co-sign the agreement and another three signed electronically. (See Nick’s Mailing conc. ICANN.org Announcement: Asia-Pacific Internet Users Big Part of ICANNs New Delhi Meeting). By this step the creation of RALOs in all parts of the world is now completed. We are looking forward to further cooperations with our colleagues from APRALO! In the afternoon we had our 2nd session of the At-Large Advisory Committee with an exchange of views on a number of topics with members of the GAC and Board. The importance of the co-existence of IPv4 and IPv6 was one and the discussion on the IDN fast-track another part of the discussion. Furthermore we worked on a formal, if possible, joint ALAC statement on the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) – see also our yesterday’s discussion on the list – and it seems there is a considerable agreement on the last draft version 2. Darlene Thompson told us this morning that there is “rough concensus“ from NARALO. There is a common understanding that the New Delhi meeting provided more and intense interaction between ALAC and other stakeholders at ICANN. Now (Friday morning), I am sitting in the open Board meeting with a full agenda. Among the topics referring to ALAC the Board just passed a resolution on the At-Large Structure Summit by “unanimous approval”. This means, idea and project of organizing a User Summit was approved in principle and “within the (coming) fiscal year” 2008-09. During our 1st ALAC session here on Sunday we strongly voted for having this Summit happen “this year” – and as part of the subsequent ICANN meeting in Paris! You may imagine that there is some kind of frustration again among ALAC and RALO representatives. As far as I have heard the Summit is now supposed to happen probably in conjunction with ICANN’s 10th Anniversary? As the EURALO representatives in Delhi (Annette, Desirée, Veronica, Sébastien and me) still believe that a User Summit in Paris would be a unique opportunity to strengthen EURALO and its outreach. Therefore we have to discuss this issue as a major point on our agenda for the foreseen EURALO board meeting end of February in Geneva (confirmation of date with draft agenda will follow today in a separate mail). There are another 2 resolutions to be passed at today’s ICANN board meeting related to At-Large: (i) the Bylaw change for ALS Applications handling, and another (ii) the thanks of the Board to APRALO. The Delhi meeting is almost over and everyone seems looking already forward to the next ICANN event in Paris in June this year. Some of us will stay in Delhi or India for some more days. I have to take my return flight to Geneva tonight. Last and kindest greetings from Delhi, Wolf comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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Re: [EURO-Discuss] Confirmation of EURALO board meeting in Geneva
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 15, 2008

Feb. 15, 2008

I got a failure message and therefore I am resending this again! Wolf Ludwig wrote Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:42: >Dear all, > >after the Doodle date request and repeated consultations we learned that not all of you are available the same time/day during the last week of February. And just having an evening board meeting makes no sense because there are several important issues to be discussed and to decide about. > >A majority of board members is available on >*Monday, 25th February 08, from 12.00 to 18.00 PM in Geneva* > >Comprising: Annette, Desirée, Veronica, Bill, Rudi, Sébastien and myself. > >Jeanette and Wolfgang who will be in Geneva for the IFG-consultation as well but later could be briefed and consulted later on Tuesday evening or at lunch time, as suggested by them. > >Annette’s and Veronica’s participation depends on funding / reimbursement of their travel expenses – an application for travel funding will be submitted today to the ALAC budget committee. Please let me know whether anybody else needs travel reimbursement! Some board members can combine it with their participation at the IGF-consultation. > >Nick has offered to organise a remote participation tool for all those who cannot make it to Geneva but would be interested to join the discussion. Please let us know ASAP whether there is enough interest for this. > >As a first preliminary Agenda for this (1st) EURALO board meeting >I would like to suggest: > >(1) Briefing about ICANN’s New Delhi meeting >(2) Options for a EURALO summit in Paris >(3) Draft EURALO budget for the coming fiscal year >(4) Planning for General Assembly in June 08 in Paris >(5) Board elections at GA in June 08 in Paris >(6) Other outreach activities foreseen >(7) Miscellaneous > >If you have any further suggestions to this agenda draft please let me know. > >Regards, >Wolf > > > >comunica-ch >phone +41 79 204 83 87 >www.comunica-ch.net > >http://blog.allmend.ch - >Digitale Allmend > comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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Re: [EURO-Discuss] [Summit-wg] Resolution of the Board of Directors related to the proposed Summit
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 15, 2008

Feb. 15, 2008

FYI -- thanks Nick, Wolf Nick Ashton-Hart wrote Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:56: >Dear All: > >I wanted to ensure you saw this as soon as it became available. This >is the text of the resolution related to the proposed Summit adopted >unanimously at the public ICANN Board Meeting today in New Delhi > >---- >At-Large Structures Summit > >Whereas, the At-Large Advisory Committee is now supported by five >Regional At-Large Organizations comprised of more than one hundred At- >Large Structures. >Whereas, members of the ALAC, RALOs, and At-Large Structures believe >that a face-to-face meeting of at least one person from each of these >structures in conjunction with an ICANN meeting would facilitate their >coordination and work on ICANN policy matters relating to the >interests of individual Internet users. > >Whereas, the ALAC and constituents have been planning for such a >Summit since ICANN's San Juan meeting. > >Whereas, this would be a special event associated with the completion >of the establishment of the At-Large Advisory Committee. > >Whereas, many of the ALAC At-Large structures are unable to cover the >costs of sending a representative to an ICANN meeting for this purpose. > >Resolved (2008.02.15.12), the Board directs Staff to work with the >ALAC to finalise a proposal that will fund one person from each At- >Large Structure to attend the proposed Summit, for consideration as >part of the 2008-2009 operating plan and budget process. > >--- >Regards, > >Nick Ashton-Hart >Director, At-Large >ICANN >Tel: +33 (450) 40 46 88 >USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 >Fax: +41 (22) 595 85 44 >mobile: +41 (79) 595 54 68 >email: nick.ashton-hart(a)icann.org >Win IM: ashtonhart(a)hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart(a)mac.com / >Skype: nashtonhart >Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Summit-wg mailing list >Summit-wg(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org >http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/summit-wg_atlarge-lists.ica… > >Summit WG URL: https://st.icann.org/Summit-wg > comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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ICANN.org Announcement: Asia-Pacific Internet Users Big Part of ICANNs New Delhi Meeting
by Nick Ashton-Hart Feb. 15, 2008

Feb. 15, 2008

Asia-Pacific Internet Users Big Part of ICANN's New Delhi Meeting http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-14feb08.htm Ceremony recognizes Regional At-Large Organization, first Asia-Pacific At-Large General Assembly 14 February 2008 NEW DELHI, INDIA: Individual Internet users from Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands have direct input into the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a fact recognized today with the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the Internet user groups who participate in the Asia-Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO). The APRALO conducted its first General Assembly as a part of ICANN's 31st International Public Meeting in New Delhi. They discussed issues that will affect Internet users throughout the region and the world. The Internet user groups who are a part of APRALO are incredibly diverse, and include users from India, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. "Today's ceremony recognizes the ICANN community's success in creating a formal, global structure to help ensure ideas and feedback from individual Internet users around the world is heard in our policy processes," said Dr Paul Twomey, ICANN's President and CEO. "ICANN's work to introduce a process for applying for new top level domains – the part after the dot – especially those using the more than 100,000 characters from the languages of the world which do not use the Latin character set – will benefit from formal inputs through the Regional At-large Organizations worldwide. The Asia-Pacific RALO is a key contributor to this process." There are now more than 100 user groups taking part in ICANN's five Regional At-large Organizations, or RALOs, from the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and Africa. APRALO was created on 30 March 2007 and has been informing the region's individual Internet users about ICANN activities and providing advice to ICANN on their behalf for nearly a year. The RALOs have direct input to ICANN, especially through the international At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), which represents Internet users in ICANN and whose members are chosen largely by the RALOs. "ICANN's ongoing coordination of the domain name system, and its policy work, has a large impact on the Internet and the more than one billion people around the world who use it – and the billions more who should be able to use it," said Cheryl Langdon-Orr, ALAC Chair. "By bringing together Internet users from across the globe, the RALOs are at the heart of ensuring that users have a say on what's happening at ICANN." More information on the participation of individual Internet users in ICANN is available at http://alac.icann.org/ -- Regards, Nick Ashton-Hart Director, At-Large ICANN Tel: +33 (450) 40 46 88 USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460 Fax: +41 (22) 595 85 44 mobile: +41 (79) 595 54 68 email: nick.ashton-hart(a)icann.org Win IM: ashtonhart(a)hotmail.com / AIM/iSight: nashtonhart(a)mac.com / Skype: nashtonhart Online Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhart

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[Fwd: Re: [ALAC-Internal] Proposed ALAC-statement regarding JPA]
by Jacqueline A.Morris Feb. 14, 2008

Feb. 14, 2008

Dear All, Please see the draft below of a proposed At Large statement on the JPA. Time is short - the deadline is tomorrow, but as much participation as possible is the At Large way, so please do what you can re comments. Jacqueline >> Annette Muehlberg wrote: >> Hi all, >> >> i think by replacing the last paragraph we could, wihtout dismissing other >> positions, reach a consensus. please have a look at the last alternative >> paragraph. >> >> warm greetings >> >> annette >> >> >> >> >> >> Proposed ALAC-statement regarding JPA: >> >> As the JPA (between the US Government and ICANN) is under Review, ALAC >> wishes to underline the unique opportunity the occasion offers to realize >> the original goals that led to the formation of ICANN. These include, inter >> alia, acknowledgement of the international nature of ICANN, support of the >> multi-stakeholder bottom-up approach to the management of ICANN, and the >> provision of viable and stable channels for the involvement of individual >> Internet users in the ICANN policy formation process. Measures must be >> implemented to ensure non-discriminatory availability of ICANN/IANA services >> as well as the opportunity for the involvement of global individual users in >> the ICANN process. >> >> In its role as the voice of the individual Internet users, ALAC firmly >> believes that the current multi-stakeholder framework at ICANN should be >> further strengthened to allow more proactive involvement of end-users. The >> process to full participation of individual users through the ALAC/RALO >> (Regional At-Large Organization) mechanism is being undertaken at this >> moment. There is, however, a lack of incentives for the participants, >> especially a lack of direct involvement at the decision-making levels of >> ICANN. Therefore, we think that ICANN should find ways to implement adequate >> representation of individual users at the decision-making levels of ICANN so >> that a real multi-stakeholder framework is achieved. >> >> In addition, we believe that no government should have a pre-eminent role in >> DNS management and exercise power over database changes and root-server >> data. We suggest that an institutional form should be found as soon as >> possible so that ICANN does not lie under the authority of any single >> national legislation. We also strongly advocate transparency and openness in >> the process of making any structural change in the ICANN framework for the >> coming transition. >> >> However, at this mid-term review phase, we do not believe the organization >> is ready to function without a similar accountability mechanism to the JPA >> in place. >> >> >> Alternative replacing the last paragraph: >> >> We are concerned that the successor oversight framework is still not clear >> and ICANN needs to clarify the transitional arrangements with regard to >> accountability and transparency as well as to allow further definition and >> evolution of the multi-stakeholder model of governance under which it >> operates. >> >> >> > > >

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Fw: [ALAC-Internal] WebWatch statement on the Joint ProjectAgreement
by Annette Muehlberg Feb. 14, 2008

Feb. 14, 2008

hi all, I just pointed out to the ALAC that we still should point out that we do suggest that an institutional form should be found as soon as possible so that ICANN does not lie under the authority of any single national legislation. But, that at this mid-term review phase, we do not believe the organization is ready to function without a similar accountability mechanism to the JPA in place. I think, if we add the last sentence to the document I sent in to the ntia two years ago in the name of the alac and make some minor changes we could reach a consensus paper to send out today. best annette please have a look at our former statement: From: Annette Muehlberg To: <DNSTransition(a)ntia.doc.gov> Date: Thu, Jul 6, 2006 12:20 PM Subject: ALAC Comments to NTIA Consultation on Transition of DNS Management 6 July 2006 Fiona Alexander Office of International Affairs National Telecommunications and Information Administration 1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Room 4701 Washington, DC 20230 Dear Ms. Alexander, The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), mandated by ICANN bylaws to convey the interests of global individual users, respectfully submits the following comments regarding the transition of the technical coordination and management of the Internet domain name and addressing system (Internet DNS). ALAC is a global entity comprised of fifteen appointed members, three from each of five geographic regions: Africa, Asia/Pacific/Australia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean Islands and North America. In addition, there are more than 40 organizations already accredited as "At-Large Structures (ALS)," which will eventually form Regional At-Large Organizations (RALOs) that will function as a bottom-up mechanism to support and engage in the ICANN policy process. As such, ALAC would like to emphasize the critical importance of openness, inclusion, transparency, and equal opportunity for all stakeholders of the world to share in the affairs of the global Internet identifier systems that ICANN is tasked to coordinate. As the MoU between the US Government and ICANN expires in September this year, ALAC wishes to underline the unique opportunity the occasion offers to realize the original goals that led to the formation of ICANN. These include, inter alia, acknowledgement of the international nature of ICANN, support of the multi-stakeholder bottom-up approach to the management of ICANN, and the provision of viable and stable channels for the involvement of individual Internet users in the ICANN policy formation process. Measures must be implemented to ensure non-discriminatory availability of ICANN/IANA services as well as the opportunity for the involvement of global individual users in the ICANN process. In its role as the voice of the individual Internet users, ALAC firmly believes that the current multi-stakeholder framework at ICANN should be further strengthened to allow more proactive involvement of end-users. The process to full participation of individual users through the ALAC/RALO (Regional At-Large Organization) mechanism is being undertaken at this moment. There is, however, a lack of incentives for the participants, especially a lack of direct involvement at the decision-making levels of ICANN. Therefore, we think that ICANN should find ways to implement adequate representation of individual users at the decision-making levels of ICANN so that a real multi-stakeholder framework is achieved. In addition, we believe that no government should have a pre-eminent role in DNS management and exercise power over database changes and root-server data. We suggest that an institutional form should be found so that ICANN does not lie under the authority of any single national legislation. We also strongly advocate transparency and openness in the process of making any structural change in the ICANN framework for the coming transition. Respectfully submitted, Annette Muehlberg Chair At-Large Advisory Committee Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

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EURALO Delhi report 3
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 14, 2008

Feb. 14, 2008

Hi all, Yesterday (Tuesday) morning we had a meeting of the At-Large Regional Secretariats discussing all kinds of pending questions that have been listed in Los Angeles (Nov. 07) and should be solved in the coming months. A focus was improvement of information that ICANN provides to its regional organisations (RALOs) to be passed on to their respective At-Large structures to enhance participation. Immediately afterwards we met some of the board members for an exchange of information and opinions. There had been other interesting cross constituency meetings such as preparation of today’s GNSO Council session and a conference on “IT success of India” with four leading Indian business managers. In the afternoon ALAC met with Robin representing the Non-commercial Users Constituency (NCUC – of the Generic Names Supporting Organization, GNSO) discussing common concerns and exchanging view points. All those who haven’t had enough so far could just follow the rest of the Board meeting with the GAC. The focus of this open meeting was on the midterm review of the JPA and what transition to the private sector will look like for ICANN. The complete schedule for ICANN's 31st meeting, as well as links to webcast sessions and our public participation website, can be found at: http://delhi.icann.org/. So far, Best regards from Delhi, Wolf comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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EURALO Delhi report 4
by Wolf Ludwig Feb. 14, 2008

Feb. 14, 2008

Hi all, Yesterday (Wednesday) morning I participated in the open GNSO Council Meeting trying to get familiar with this body and the variety of subjects of its six constituencies. The debate comprised issues like domain tasting, new gTLDs, IDNs and changes to the GNSO’s structure and the GNSO Improvements report submitted by the Board Governance Committee (BGC) early February 08. In the afternoon I followed Workshops on the IPv6 Update, Translation Policy and the Operating Plan. In the evening ALAC plus Secretariats had cocktails and hors d'oeuvres with members of the GNSO Council. In this report I would like to share a comment of the Consumer Union of the US on ICANN’s Joint Project Agreement (JPA) which is supported by many at ALAC with you: ___ COMMENTS OF CONSUMER REPORTS WEBWATCH, Consumers Union of the U.S., On ICANN Joint Project Agreement with U.S. Commerce Department February 14, 2008 Consumer Reports WebWatch of the Consumers Union, representing 9 million consumers in the United States and Canada, supports ICANN’s efforts to evolve and move forward toward an existence apart from the JPA agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, at this mid-term review phase, we do not believe the organization is ready to function without a similar accountability mechanism to the JPA in place. Major changes need to occur within the organization to assure more efficient and meaningful user community representation, with long-term guarantees that such representation would endure unforeseen scenarios in the future. Our justifications for this position are simple: First, we do not believe the structure of ICANN as it exists today sufficiently takes into account the needs and opinions of end-users. Based on a review of operational documents and bylaws, we do not see any sort of language guaranteeing meaningful user participation into the future. To address this issue, Consumers Union believes the at-large community needs multiple seats on the ICANN board; the initial bylaws, in fact, called for fully half the board to be elected by the at-large. We base this opinion on Consumer Reports WebWatch’s own 11-month experience as an “at-large structure” recruited by ICANN, and our eight months’ experience as an elected representative to the at-large advisory committee.__Second, though the outreach work of ICANN at-large staff Nick Ashton-Hart and Kieran McCarthy is commendable, ICANN’s staff and public communications budget is insufficient to address a much larger problem of outreach. To elaborate: Currently, the NA-RALO is made up of a scant handful of organizations. While these are valuable partners, in no way could the NA-RALO be characterized as a viable representation of a broad-based user community in the United States and Canada. Further, many consumer organizations in the United States with a mission that includes the intersection of technology and consumer issues, remain skeptical of ICANN's intentions and its viability as an organization that takes consumer views into account. Until something is done to bridge this gap and ICANN demonstrates its good intentions and long-term structural viability to organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and others, we do not believe ICANN can be considered to be acting in accordance with the concerns of the user community in North America.__In addition, there are no guarantees beyond mention in the bylaws that the "at-large community," itself currently under review, would remain a part of the ICANN structure 20 or even 10 years from now. The at-large advisory committee is without a vote in any meaningful policy forum. Without direct user community representation on the ICANN board, we do not believe ICANN is truly acting as a “multi-stakeholder" organization. We are concerned, in fact, that ICANN does sees itself as a multi-stakeholder organization, with industry, government, and industry groups as the stakeholders. It does not help matters much that many within the ICANN community view domain name registrants as the Internet’s “end-users,” and therefore the farthest realm the ICANN needs to reach. Until these issues are addressed we do not believe the organization is ready to progress beyond the JPA, which refers to "the global participation of all stakeholders" and "mechanisms for involvement of those affected by the ICANN policies." As the Internet-using public is a key set of stakeholders affected by ICANN's policies, it is critical, including for Internet security and stability, that the organization be accountable to the public and account effectively for its input. We believe the following three things need to happen in order for ICANN to move forward beyond the JPA: 1. Address lack of meaningful user representation, and assure its long-term viability within the organization, by creating multiple “user community” seats on the ICANN board. 2. Allocate significant budget to get the message that it has done so, out to civil society stakeholder groups in North America and the global user community. 3. Take administrative steps to ensure the long-term structural existence of user community presence and participation in decision-making. We appreciate the opportunity to comment. Beau Brendler, Director, Consumer Reports WebWatch, and member, ICANN at-large advisory committee ___ The complete schedule for ICANN's 31st meeting, as well as links to webcast sessions and our public participation website, can be found at: http://delhi.icann.org/. So far, Best regards from Delhi, Wolf comunica-ch phone +41 79 204 83 87 www.comunica-ch.net http://blog.allmend.ch - Digitale Allmend

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