Greetings...
During the conference call yesterday I mentioned that the ALAC was
working to improve its internal organization and flesh out its working
groups on policy issues.
There was a request for more detail, so here is the most current version
of the document. The invitation remains open from me, to send me your
positions/concerns/thoughts on ANY of the policy areas (not just the
ones in which I'm on a working group), and I will make sure your
positions are heard.
As far as I can figure out, this is not currently posted elsewhere. It
may change, also, after the next ALAC conference call, as there are a
couple of matters up for a vote or undecided (I have nominated myself
for GAC liaison, for instance, though that's not yet an official
position, and there's another candidate, Izumi Aizu, so eventually, I
assume there will be a vote.)
-----Original Message-----
From: alac-internal-bounces(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org
[mailto:alac-internal-bounces@atlarge-lists.icann.org] On Behalf Of Nick
Ashton-Hart
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:14 AM
To: ALAC & Secretariats Internal
Subject: [ALAC-Internal] Complete list of ALAC Officers, Liaisons,and
Working Group volunteers
Dear All:
Here is the current state of the listing. Note that this does as
requested incorporate all positions.
There are still a few working groups which require an ALAC Issue
Coordinator and/or chair or co-chair.
An Excel-based version of this information, by ALAC member instead of by
subject, will shortly be made available.
_______________________________________________
ALAC-Internal mailing list
ALAC-Internal(a)atlarge-lists.icann.org
http://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac-internal_atlarge-lists…
ALAC Wiki: http://st.icann.org/alac
ALAC Official: http://alac.icann.org
ALAC Independent: http://www.icannalac.org
Hello everyone,
At least many of you have been following and participating in the debate
on the global At-Large list (and occasionally diverted into the ALAC's
internal list) on the issue of Domain Tasting.
The stance taken at last month's NARALO conference call was strong,
clear, and dare I say even courageous given the motherhood statements
that existed in the draft position. Our call to eliminate the add-grade
period (AGP) is now part of the official ALAC document which resides at
this URL:
https://st.icann.org/data/workspaces/gnso-liaison/attachments/domain_tastin…
I find it extremely unfortunate that ALAC could not itself take a strong
anti-AGP stand, but the final outcome was -- to me -- much better than
original drafts that tried to marginalize the position.
There are some lingering issues, resulting from the debate, that I
would like to address:
1) Some At-Large constituents have contacted me about the possibility of
NARALO submitting its own position paper to GNSO independently of ALAC's
submission. Personally I am not convinced this is now required, given
that the final ALAC document reasonably captures and identifies our
position. However, I think we need to at least be aware of the request.
How strong is the need for us to create our own document?
2) One particular part of the discussions disturbed me greatly -- the
assertion by Alan that ALAC has adopted a position of "silence means
consent". Given the lack of input that ALAC usually gets for its
initiatives -- and the (IMO) lack of effort it makes to reach out to
extract the public point of view -- I find this position to be harmful
to the whole At-Large process. I would rather ALAC honestly admit to not
having enough feedback on issues, to reporting that it speaks on behalf
of a community that has been silent. To me, the "silence equals
agreement" position is indefensible and damages the reputation of ALAC
-- and indeed ICANN -- amongst the public it is trying to reach.
I would like to ask our ALAC representatives to consider this issue.
Perhaps a subsequent discussion within NARALO is called for, but I would
personally like our reps to officially ask ALAC to end any policy,
formal or informal, of "silence means consent". Perhaps some here --
including non-ALAC reps with some history -- can offer why this policy
exists in the first place. I would like to especially hear from anyone
with a view that this policy needs to stay in place; I honestly don't
understand any rationale except for disguising the inability to actually
discern the grassroots viewpoint.
3) I'm not certain that the planned vote by ALAC to post internal policy
related mail to a public website is sufficient to overturn a culture of
secrecy. There are too many on ALAC who simply don't have the mindset
that it is a completely public organization for which extremely few
issues (mainly personal/personnel issues) should be in-camera.
I'm not sure how to address this but I can be certain that it's
affecting our credibility. Robert can be singled out for doing an
exemplary job of trying to confront this, but I'm wondering if the
necessary change in culture is really happening -- or if there is
anything we can do about it.
4) Issues have been raised about addressing public complaints or
interest to get involved. While I agree that ALAC itself is not equipped
to be a consumer ombudsman within ICANN, perhaps we should start
thinking of ways to enable/force it within ICANN. What does everyone think?
5) So that we do not get caught in making and defending positions at the
last minute, are there any issues listed at
http://icann.org/public_comment/ that warrant our specific work? The
only one pressing on deadlines is the issue of single-letter
second-level domains (ie. a.com or x.asia).
- Evan
Dear All:
For your information, the Report of the Staff of At-Large may be
accessed at the following URL:
https://st.icann.org/data/workspaces/alac/attachments/11_december_2007:2007…
I have not attached it to this email in order to limit the bandwidth
consumption required for those on low-bandwidth connections.
--
Regards,
Nick Ashton-Hart
Director, At-Large
ICANN
Main Tel: +33 (450) 40 46 88
USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460
Fax: +41 (22) 594-85-44
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
Please excuse the off-topic nature of this mail, but it is an issue of
great importance to technology users in Canada -- the very public that
At-Large is trying to address.
Fighting the coming Canadian copyright bill is the single most important
act of advocacy anyone involved in the rights of technology can do right
now. The
proposed bill, if it becomes law, will be worse than the US DMCA and
severely entrench DRM in a way that will significantly impact users of
open source and free software, as well as anyone who wants to do
straightforward things such as listen to music CDs they legitimately
purchased on portable devices.
Please get involved. At very least be informed. This affects YOU and
anyone who uses information and communications technology.
www.digital-copyright.cahttp://www.michaelgeist.ca/
- Evan Leibovitch
Begin forwarded message:
> From: ICANN News Alert <ICANN-Alerts(a)icann.org>
> Date: December 7, 2007 4:34:34 PM PST
> To: <alerts-text(a)greenriver.icann.org>
> Subject: [alerts-text] ICANN News Alert -- Application Round Opens
> for Paris Meeting Fellowships
> Reply-To: ICANN-Alerts(a)icann.org
>
>
> ICANN
>
> <http://www.icann.org/>
>
> News Alert
>
> <http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-07dec07.htm>
>
> ________________________________
>
>
> Application Round Opens for Paris Meeting Fellowships
>
> Program makes sure global voices heard at ICANN’s International
> Public Meetings
>
> 7 December 2007
>
> MARINA DEL REY, Calif. : The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
> and Numbers is putting out the call for fellowship program
> applications for its 32nd International Public Meeting to be held in
> Paris from 22-27 June 2008.
>
> "The fellowship program plays a key role in making sure that global
> voices are heard at the ICANN meeting and in our various public
> forums," said Theresa Swinehart, ICANN's Vice President, Global and
> Strategic Partnerships.
>
> The 23 fellows from 22 countries who played an active role at the
> Los Angeles meeting were chosen from 167 applications received. An
> additional 10 candidates chosen in this round were deferred to the
> New Delhi meeting in February. Of the fellows at the Los Angeles
> meeting, had never attended an ICANN meeting before, and seven were
> alumni from the inaugural program in San Juan this past June.
>
> Priority is given to applicants who are current residents of
> developing and least developed nations and interested in
> participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the
> Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting
> Organization, and the Generic Names Supporting Organization. The
> fellowship will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend.
> Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and
> contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN’s
> meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend.
>
> Applications will be accepted from now until 1200 PDT (UTC -7) on 11
> January 2008. More information, as well as a link to the application
> for a fellowship, is available online at: http://www.icann.org/fellowships/
>
> About ICANN:
>
> ICANN is responsible for the global coordination of the Internet's
> system of unique identifiers like domain names (like .org, .museum
> and country codes like .uk) and the addresses used in a variety of
> Internet protocols that help computers reach each other over the
> Internet. Careful management of these resources is vital to the
> Internet's operation, so ICANN's global stakeholders meet regularly
> to develop policies that ensure the Internet's ongoing security and
> stability. ICANN is an internationally organized, public benefit non-
> profit company. For more information please visit: www.icann.org <http://www.icann.org/
> > .
>
> Media Contacts:
>
> Jason Keenan
> Media Adviser, ICANN (USA)
> Ph: +1 310 382 4004
> E: jason.keenan(a)icann.org
>
> International: Andrew Robertson
> Edelman (London)
> Ph: +44 7921 588 770
> E: andrew.robertson(a)edelman.com
>
> ________________________________
>
> Sign up for ICANN's Monthly Magazine <http://www.icann.org/magazine/>
>
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> <http://www.icann.org/newsletter/>
>
> If you have questions or comments about this mailing list, send an
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>
>
>
Dear All:
Just to remind you, the teleconference for this month for your region
is today at 2000 UTC - an agenda page with dialin information may be
found at: https://st.icann.org/naralo/index.cgi?3_december_2007
I shall try to join you but I am travelling today on business and may
be on a plane during the meeting - if I cannot join I look forward to
listening to the recording tonite :)
--
Regards,
Nick Ashton-Hart
Director, At-Large
ICANN
Main Tel: +33 (450) 40 46 88
USA Tel: +1 (202) 657-5460
Fax: +41 (22) 594-85-44
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
