On Sat, Jul 17, 1999 at 04:32:37PM -0400, Gene Marsh wrote:
> >There are clearly other, higher, priorities. The White Paper, the
> >Green Paper, the MoU with NTIA all quite clearly state that the
> >stability of the Internet is the highest priority of all, etc.
>
> OK, granted. Now, please detail to me what ICANN is doing to ensure the
> stability of the Internet?
Making sure that the root server system doesn't collapse because of
Y2K is the most vivid example, little noted here.
Stability is only the highest of several priorities, in fact.
Quoting from the MoU -- the actual document that defines ICANN's
priorities:
1. Stability
This Agreement promotes the stability of the Internet and allows
the Parties to plan for a deliberate move from the existing
structure to a private-sector structure without disruption to the
functioning of the DNS. The Agreement calls for the design,
development, and testing of a new management system that will not
harm current functional operations.
2. Competition
This Agreement promotes the management of the DNS in a manner that
will permit market mechanisms to support competition and consumer
choice in the technical management of the DNS. This competition
will lower costs, promote innovation, and enhance user choice and
satisfaction.
3. Private, Bottom-Up Coordination
This Agreement is intended to result in the design, development,
and testing of a private coordinating process that is flexible and
able to move rapidly enough to meet the changing needs of the
Internet and of Internet users. This Agreement is intended to
foster the development of a private sector management system that,
as far as possible, reflects a system of bottom-up management.
4. Representation.
This Agreement promotes the technical management of the DNS in a
manner that reflects the global and functional diversity of
Internet users and their needs. This Agreement is intended to
promote the design, development, and testing of mechanisms to
solicit public input, both domestic and international, into a
private-sector decision making process. These mechanisms will
promote the flexibility needed to adapt to changes in the
composition of the Internet user community and their needs.
Note that "representation" is the closest thing to the issue of
elections, and it doesn't mention them specifically at all. This
priority is the last listed (note: they *aren't* listed in
alphabetical order), and that it is couched in terms of the "design,
development, and testing of mechanisms". Actual implementation of
those mechanisms is not even mentioned in these principles.
Note # 2 -- promotion of competition. That is precisely the point of
the work concerning the NSI contract; the registrar accreditation
guidelines; the matters concerning dispute resolution policies. It
comes before "representation".
Further down the document several specific tasks are mentioned.
Number 8 is the relevant one:
8. Collaborate on the design, development, and testing of
appropriate membership mechanisms that foster accountability to and
representation of the global and functional diversity of the
Internet and its users, within the structure of private- sector DNS
management organization.
The MoU is the document that most directly describes ICANNs mandate.
It doesn't mention elections; it doesn't mention the garbage about
the "interim vs initial" board; it doesn't mention grandiose internet
governance goals; it doesn't mention individual representation.
Instead it outlines a number of specific areas, and in fact ICANN is
working exactly on those areas.
To put it more succintly: ICANN is following its mandate very
closely, and doing a damn good job under difficult circumstances
with very limited resources.
--
Kent Crispin "Do good, and you'll be
[EMAIL PROTECTED] lonesome." -- Mark Twain
