A Model for Community and Global Internet Governance The following is offered as a model for local and global Internet governance. While the many details required for the model's implementation make it impractical for the immediate needs of ICANN and its Membership Advisory Committee, it is hoped that the structure outlined represents a paradigm we may achieve as a basis for the second election of the Board of Governors. BACKGROUND While the Internet community has been struggling to create new mechanisms for the administration and governance of the global Internet, my neighbors and I have been focused on creating a communication system that will help meliorate the many problems of my geographic community. That community is Community District 3Q - the smallest administrative and planning division of New York City, comprising three distinct neighborhoods with a population of 125,000. The District is governed locally by a Community Board, of which I am currently vice-chair. As a government official with 20 years experience working with online technologies I find myself facile with multiple issues related to Internet governance. In certain instances this has included prudent preparation for the potentially damaging arising features like geographic ignorance and distance insensitivity. The solution I've developed is embodied in The Communisphere Project. Its goal is to use the Internet's features for community good. It was while developing the governance structure for Communisphere that I became aware of the While Community Certification In our case the Community Board will decide on certification. To receive certification the ISP will need to offer the following: Universal Access to a Community Service Tier - The CST Email At a later date we might include a individual web site. (I might interject here The ideal goal is universal access Email Addess Individual web space, with Ans while my local effort has been moving ahead, ICANN has been seeking a means for governing the Internet. And then the spark - what if… Our Needs For reasons of economics, For reasons of social equity, For reasons of governance, we need universal access to online communication. We need a means for governing the Internet. This access should include an individual email address, a web site, with portable addresses, and access to loca, city,state, federal, and internationl. (This is the American model, others may vary based on the Universal Access Community Standards Our Offer: The lowest level of government selects the local provider(s) and certifies that it meets the Communisphere Standards it. For example. I live in Jackson HeightsIn my community, Jackson Heights Some of the problems this solves. Some questions raised. I hope this model is helpful in future deliberations. Sincerely, Tom Lowenhaupt February 13, 1999 Some might see this structure as challenging the stability provided by the Peace of Westphalia, I see it as an addendum to that settlement. to: IN:[EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: IN:[EMAIL PROTECTED]