IP: More on icann.org - note this is a proposal *only*

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Esther Dyson <edyson () edventure com>
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 20:03:35 -0500
To: forum () atlargestudy org, David Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: see icann.org - note this is a proposal *only*

the board took no action other than to discuss and encourage discussion.....

Esther


http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-24feb02.htm

Esther

ICANN PRESIDENT RECOMMENDS A ROADMAP FOR REFORM....


Marina del Rey, California USA (24 February 2002) At the ICANN Board of
Directors retreat held over the weekend of 23 February, President Stuart
Lynn proposed a sweeping series of structural reforms for ICANN. These
reforms, designed to lead ICANN towards attainment of its core mission,
were carefully discussed by the Board. Board directors encouraged Lynn to
post the proposed reforms for public review and comment.
"The current structure of ICANN was widely recognized as an experiment when
created three years ago," noted Board Chairman Vint Cerf. "The rapid
expansion of and increasing global dependence on the Internet have made it
clear that a new structure is essential if ICANN is to fulfill its mission."
ICANN was formed three years ago as an entirely private global organization
designed to assume responsibility for the DNS root from the United States
government and to coordinate technical policy for the Internet's naming and
address allocation systems. In the new proposals, the basic mission remains
intact. What changes is the means of achieving that mission.
"What has become clear to me and others is that a purely private
organization will not work," said Lynn. "The Internet has become too
important to national economic and social progress. Governments, as the
representatives of their populations, must participate more directly in
ICANN's debates and policymaking functions. We must find the right form of
global public-private partnership - one that combines the agility and
strength of a private organization with the authority of governments to
represent the public interest."
Noting that current organizational inertia and obsession with process over
substance has impeded agility, Lynn laid out a roadmap designed to instill
confidence in key stakeholders and to ensure that ICANN can be more
effective. This roadmap entails restructuring the Board of Directors into a
Board of Trustees composed in part of trustees nominated by those
governments who participate in the ICANN process; in part by the chairs of
proposed new "policy councils" that would replace the existing supporting
organizations and that would provide expert advice; and in part by trustees
proposed by a broadly-based nominating committee and appointed by the Board
itself.
The roadmap is designed to bring all critical stakeholders to the table,
something that has been difficult to achieve with the present structure and
has slowed ICANN's progress and its ability to fulfill its
responsibilities. It is also designed to establish a broad-based funding
mechanism sufficient to support the critical mission of ICANN.
"We need to build a stronger organization, supported by our key
stakeholders, led by the best team that can be assembled, and properly
funded," Lynn told the Board at its retreat. "We must be structured to
function effectively in this fast-paced global Internet environment" "A key
requirement is to keep the best of the present ICANN," added Cerf, "in
ensuring transparency, openness, and participation, while creating an ICANN
that can act responsibly and quickly. That will mean rejecting practices
that have emphasized process over achievement. Above all, ICANN must be -
and be seen to be - effective and supportive of technical innovation and of
a reliable Internet."
A paper written by Lynn that explains the reasons for change and the
roadmap for reform is posted on the ICANN web site.


BACK TO THE FRONTIER - this year's PC FORUM with
Craig Barrett, Rick Belluzzo, Eric Schmidt... and you!
www.pcforum2002.com/pcforum/speakers.cfm
March 24 to 26


Esther Dyson            Always make new mistakes!
chairman, EDventure Holdings
writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
edyson () edventure com
1 (212) 924-8800    --   fax  1 (212) 924-0240
104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
New York, NY 10011 USA
http://www.edventure.com




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