February 2016 - PublicInterest

High Interest Session: Exploring the Public Interest Within ICANN's Remit
by Lauren Allison Feb. 24, 2016

Feb. 24, 2016

Overview: Discussions on the topic of the "public interest within ICANN's remit" and potential definitions of this term have been ongoing for years. In 2013-2014, the Strategy Panel on Public Responsibility Framework, led by Nii Quaynor, explored this topic. Based on community input at sessions and webinars, the Panel defined the global public interest in relation to the Internet as: * "ensuring that the Internet becomes, and continues to be, stable, inclusive, and accessible across the globe so that all may enjoy the benefits of a single and open Internet. In addressing its public responsibility, ICANN must build trust in the Internet and its governance ecosystem." While some recommended the report, at individual and ICANN meetings, and at ICANN 52 in particular, it is evident there is a need and a desire to revisit this topic. Given limits on bandwidth for additional projects, and given the intense focus on other ongoing dialogues, a wikispace was established as a resource space for all to populate with background documents that will be useful in guiding this conversation forward. As set out in the ICANN Operating and Strategic Plans, ICANN will be facilitating a conversation in Financial Year 16 to explore the "public interest" within ICANN's mission and mandate, and this High Interest Session will form an important part of this work. https://meetings.icann.org/en/marrakech55/schedule/mon-public-interest-remit

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ICANN55 High Interest Session on Exploring the "Public Interest"within ICANN's Remit
by Lauren Allison Feb. 22, 2016

Feb. 22, 2016

Dear All, Thank you for your interest in the upcoming discussions surrounding “exploring public interest within ICANN’s remit”. As you may be aware, this work was scheduled to commence in early FY16; however, in conversations with many of you, it was recommended that we postpone the kick-off for this work until ICANN55 to allow focus on Transition discussions and work. In the interim, staff have been holding informal conversations, attending SO/AC meetings and conference calls to gauge what would be useful preparations for this exercise. As promised, these resources have been collated and placed on a Community Confluence Wiki page here. (If you require an account, please let me know and I will make sure you get access asap). This page currently contains the following information for your use: Background on the Strategy Panel on the Public Responsibility Framework, Chaired by Nii Quaynor, who examined the term ‘public interest’- includes all related Panel Materials in the Resource Section Public Interest ICANN Departments Synthesis: A report of the results of an internal survey conducted in ICANN Departments of how the term “public interest” is currently referenced, understood, and applied, along with potential implications of further work in this area. Public and Global Interest Inventory: An inventory of documents in ICANN work that reference either the term “Global Public Interest” or “Public Interest” Recent Dialogues and Sessions on this Topic: Summaries and links to recent dialogues and sessions that have discussed the topic of “public interest” in relation to ICANN or telecommunications/critical Internet Resources including: Global Public Interest in Critical Internet Resources, WS52, November 2011, 2015, IGF At-Large EURALO General Assembly Part 1 on “Public Interest”, October 21, 2015, ICANN54 Global Public Interest of the Internet, WS159, September 4, 2014, IGF Related Academic Resources Online Materials- Blog Posts, Opinion Pieces, and Articles This is a growing resource, so if you have items you would like to add, please email dprd(a)icann.org and we will update. At ICANN55, a High Interest Session was requested to allow for initial broader conversations on this topic. This session has been scheduled to take place on Monday 7th March 2016, 15:15 to 16:30 WET. >From conversations to date, the following elements appear to be paramount in provide useful background and soliciting input: Previous work on this topic during the Panel on the Public Responsibility Framework as background Recent discussions at ICANN, IGF and other Internet Fora Recent discussions from CCWG on this topic Generating input from across ICANN on how this term is currently understood and applied in their work Generating input on potential issues to consider and next steps So as not to start completely from scratch, staff from the Development and Public Responsibility Department (DPRD), who are facilitating this conversation, have gone through recommendations from stakeholders and previous similar sessions to draw up a draft agenda for your consideration and input on the wikispace. As you will note, time is very limited and it has been suggested that we focus on building a highly interactive and inclusive discussion open to participation across ICANN and that is moderated by facilitators. We would be very grateful if you could feedback on the draft agenda to see how it can be improved to ensure this session is as inclusive and informational as possible. An additional item to note, there is a clash with the HLGM meeting, so GAC members will be unable to attend and this will need to be taken into consideration in designing the session and eventual next steps. If you have any questions, please do let me know. Best wishes, Lauren

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High Interest Session: Exploring the Public Interest Within ICANN's Remit
by Lauren Allison Feb. 22, 2016

Feb. 22, 2016

Overview: Discussions on the topic of the "public interest within ICANN's remit" and potential definitions of this term have been ongoing for years. In 2013-2014, the Strategy Panel on Public Responsibility Framework, led by Nii Quaynor, explored this topic. Based on community input at sessions and webinars, the Panel defined the global public interest in relation to the Internet as: * "ensuring that the Internet becomes, and continues to be, stable, inclusive, and accessible across the globe so that all may enjoy the benefits of a single and open Internet. In addressing its public responsibility, ICANN must build trust in the Internet and its governance ecosystem." While some recommended the report, at individual and ICANN meetings, and at ICANN 52 in particular, it is evident there is a need and a desire to revisit this topic. Given limits on bandwidth for additional projects, and given the intense focus on other ongoing dialogues, a wikispace was established as a resource space for all to populate with background documents that will be useful in guiding this conversation forward. As set out in the ICANN Operating and Strategic Plans, ICANN will be facilitating a conversation in Financial Year 16 to explore the "public interest" within ICANN's mission and mandate, and this High Interest Session will form an important part of this work. https://meetings.icann.org/en/marrakech55/schedule/mon-public-interest-remit

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