---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 13:26:19 -0500 From: James Love <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of list RANDOM-BITS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Random-bits] TACD statement on ICANN The following is the text of one of the resolutions approved by the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) at its meeting that meeting concluded on February 12, 2000. There may be a final stylistic change by the TACD secretariat before the resolutions from the Feb 10-12 meeting are published on the TACD web page (http://www.tacd.org). This one of several TACD resolutions on ecommerce that were approved by the group. The others covered topics such as the US/EU safe harbor negotiations, jurisdiction, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, spam, linking of web pages and the privacy implications of the Time Warner/AOL and similar mergers. (None of which are available from the TACD web page yet). TACD represents more than 60 consumer groups in the EU and the US, including all of the largest and best known consumer organizations. It is funded by the EU and US governments to provide a consumer perspective in the negotiations on the Trans Atlantic Economic Partnership (TEP), a very important trade negotiation between the US and the EU. Jamie Love <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <--------begin TACD recommendations----------------> Pharmaceuticals - access to medicines in developing countries TACD statement on ICANN The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of California that is seeking broad control over resources and functions that are essential for the operation of the Internet. According to ICANN, this includes "responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management." Groups with various agendas are seeking ways to block access to websites that engage in a variety of activities, or to impose new Internet surveillance systems that can be used to impose liability on certain actions. There is now growing attention to the role of the DNS system and Internet protocol development as a system of control over Internet usage. For example, by controlling the allocation and mapping of domain names and IP numbers, it is possible to render a web page invisible and unfindable to most Internet addresses. There are also proposals for various Internet protocols that would enable new mechanisms for surveillance of Internet transmissions. Because of their strategic importance, there are profound concerns over the future control over the resources to control DNS management. A number of groups with diverse interests and views are seeking mechanisms to limit the use of DNS management to narrow technical issues necessary for the operation of the Internet, and to prevent the system of DNS management from being used as an enforcement mechanism for government or private policy making. It is the view of TACD that ICANN's mission should be limited so that it does not become a general purpose Internet governance organization. The records of ICANN should be open to the public, including financial records, and all ICANN contracts, and ICANN should be accountable to the public. The public should be given an annual opportunity to review and comment on the ICANN budget. The Budget of ICANN should be subject to review by the countries that provide the ICANN charter. Fees associated with domain registration should only be spent on activities essential to the management of the DNS system. TACD asks the US and the EU to report on the legal mechanics that will limit ICANN's power to address broad Internet content issues, and insure public accountability. _______________________________________________ Random-bits mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/random-bits