On Sat, 3 Jul 1999, Craig McTaggart wrote:
> When people criticize ICANN's methods and power, some essentially argue that
> it should be more like a government, with due process controls and
> democratic authority before it imposes fees (which many erroneously call
> taxes - a curiously American predilection). No taxation without
> representation, they say. Wait a minute, I thought government was the
> problem, and the last thing we wanted was government. How ironic it is to
> hear the anti-government posters finally implicitly recognize that whoever
> does this job has to have legitimate authority and function in everybody's
> interests. Sounds like government, huh?
I don't think you are offering a particularly accurate portrayal of those
that don't wish an Internet "governance" organization. I also don't
believe your conclusion is valid.
The persons behind ICANN have repeatedly stated that what they are doing
is not "governance." Their actions speak otherwise. Some of this be
attributed to confusion in the Green and White Papers as to the role of
the new organization, and even further to the mandate from the Clinton
Administration. Some of these actions however, simply cannot be
attributed to mere ignorance. ICANN has been extremely overzealous in
setting up a "governance" structure by its attempted imposition of power
over the delegation and seizing of objects such as domain names, something
that IANA never attempted to do. Indeed, the White Paper was very clear
with regards to the scope and applicability of domain dispute resolution
policies, yet ICANN has completely ignored this.
While I don't purport to speak for those that don't want an Internet
"government," I believe the viewpoint is fairly simple: "We don't want an
Internet government. However, as that seems to be what is occuring, it
better be done properly." It hasn't, it isn't and it isn't going to be.
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Patrick Greenwell Telocity http://www.telocity.com
(408) 863-6617 v (tinc) (408) 777-1451 f
"This is our time. It will not come again."
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