[discuss] /1net Steering/Coordination Commitee

[Avri Doria]

Hi,

On 29-Dec-13 22:10, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
> 1net, which does not even have a steering group yet, is not in a
> position to determine how civil society should self-select its
> representatives.  Although we do not claim it to be perfect,
> nevertheless there is an overall rough consensus within the core civil
> society groups involved in Internet governance discussions to support
> the coordinating group process as the vehicle for selection of
> representatives.  1net has no basis to second-guess this by affording
> Michael Gurstein an extra place at the table, just because he doesn't
> like the coordinating group process.

While in no way supporting a special seat for the  CI group (many of 
whom seem to also be IGC and BB activists), I want to challenge the 
remark that 1net has no role in the process by which civil society or 
any other Stakeholder groups pick their representatives.

I think that in terms of its own steering committee and in terms of 
fulfilling other roles such as the ones the Brazilian LOC has charged it 
with aggregating, 1net has a process management role of assuring that a 
fair representation was indeed presented by the various Stakeholder 
Groups. While I think that the Stakeholder Groups are indeed responsible 
for picking their own representatives, by whatever variant of a 
democratic process they might use, 1net has a responsibility to make 
sure that they processes used are indeed democratic and inclusive, for 
some definitions of democratic and inclusive.

I do not think 1net should seat someone on its own regard, it should 
rather go back to any group that submits names, if there is an 
indication of exclusion or lack of sufficient diversity.  That seems to 
me like part of 1net's due diligence in fulfilling its role.

I think it is reasonable for 1net steering group, or pre-steering group 
if the steering group is not yet formed, to provide feedback and ask for 
more information or consideration from a Stakeholder Group on its 
recommendations. The general discuss list can also formulate questions 
that could be passed on to the Stakeholder Group.  And if a group, such 
as the ISPs or the CI, feel they are not being included, the 1net could 
intervene with questions.  Likewise if the lack of diversity is obvious 
in a proposed delegation, they can ask about that as well.


avri