[discuss] Possible approaches to solving "problem no. 1"

Thu Feb 20 12:37:20 UTC 2014

Ian, see today's announced Board resolutions:

http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-17feb14-en.htm

Approved Board Resolutions | Special Meeting of the ICANN Board

17 February 2014

President's Globalization Advisory Groups

Whereas, the multistakeholder model has matured in response to the many
challenges of exponential growth in the Internet, so ICANN must continue to
evolve and grow in response to those challenges.

Whereas, ICANN's mission and responsibilities are to the global community
and stakeholders worldwide.

Whereas, as a multistakeholder organization ICANN must evolve to fully
execute its narrow mission, which is to coordinate, at the overall level,
the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and be in a position
to meet new challenges whether operational, policy, political or technical.

Whereas, in order for ICANN to fully execute its mission as a
multistakeholder organization and be in a position to meet operational,
policy, political, or technical challenges, there must be an evolution of
the globalization of ICANN.

Whereas, the globalization of ICANN includes, among other things:
strengthening and continuing to evolve and improve ICANN as a
multistakeholder organization; and contributing as a partner in the
Internet eco-system to strengthen awareness and the evolution of
multistakeholder Internet governance and cooperation in a manner that
ensures the continued flexibility to adapt to emerging issues.

Whereas, on 28 September 2013, the ICANN Board authorized the CEO to, among
other things, "work with other key organizations and leaders to establish a
coalition towards the formation of a movement or initiative" ("Coalition"),
in order to address increasing concerns regarding the effectiveness of a
"global, open, multi-stakeholder Internet governance system."

Whereas, the President and CEO has executed the mandate of the 28 September
2013 Board resolution and has helped facilitate a number of activities,
including:

(i) the expansion and launch of a previously announced strategy panel now
entitled "Panel on the Future of Internet Governance;"

(ii) development of and participation in the "1net initiative"; and

(iii) encouraging the establishment of and support for a meeting on
multistakeholder Internet governance that is now likely to take place in
Brazil in April 2014.

Whereas, on 17 November 2013, the Board approved
Resolution2013.11.17.01 directing
the President and CEO to continue supporting the three emerging and
evolving initiatives and recognizing that ICANN, as part of the Internet
ecosystem, is just one of the many participants providing resources and
support to the following three initiatives:

(i) the expansion and launch of a previously announced strategy panel now
entitled "Panel on the Future of Internet Governance";

(ii) development and participation in the "1net initiative"; and

(iii) encouraging the establishment of and support for a meeting on
multistakeholder Internet governance that is now likely to take place in
Brazil in April 2014.

Whereas, in Resolution 2013.11.17.01, the Board noted that "without
strengthening a global, coherent approach to Internet governance, ongoing
and emerging issues will not be properly addressed in a collective,
collaborate way, which may inadvertently affect the operational unity of
the Internet, consistent with ICANN's mandate."

Whereas, the continued globalization of ICANN must evolve in several ways,
including: partnerships in the broader Internet eco-system to strengthen
multistakeholder Internet governance frameworks; strengthening ICANN
itself, including affirmations of commitments and relationships among the
stakeholders; evolving the policy structures to serve and scale to the
needs of the global community, and identify opportunities for the future
legal structures and IANA globalization.

Whereas, given the nature and breadth of issues involved with the continued
globalization efforts, ICANN has recognized the importance of the timely
establishment of groups of Board members to focus on given topic areas, and
then report and make recommendations to the President and CEO, and the full
Board, for consideration.

Whereas, as part of its continued globalization efforts, ICANN should
establish certain "President's Globalization Advisory Groups" composed of
Board members to address the following areas: Affirmation of Commitments
("AOC"), policy structures, legal structure, root server system, the IANA
multistakeholder accountability, and Internet governance.

Resolved (2014.02.17.01), the Board approves the creation of several
President's Globalization Advisory Groups in order to support further ICANN
globalization. These Advisory Groups of Board members are being set up to
provide guidance to the full Board in support of ICANN's globalization work
led by the President and CEO. The President's Globalization Advisory Groups
will meet with the community during ICANN 49 Singapore Meeting, and around
IETF 89, and other community meetings to discuss the ICANN globalization
issues. The President's Globalization Advisory Groups will then make
recommendations to the Board, which the Board will report during ICANN 50
London Meeting.

These Advisory Groups will deal with the following topics:

Affirmation of Commitments ("AOC");

policy structures;

legal structure;

root server system;

the IANA multistakeholder accountability; and,

Internet governance.

The President and CEO will announce the composition of these Advisory
Groups within two days following the posting of this resolution at
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/other/globalization-19feb14-en.pdf [see
attached]; the President and CEO shall have the authority to change the
Advisory Groups and their composition from time to time, without requiring
a further resolution.

RATIONALE FOR RESOLUTION 2014.02.17.01

This resolution is a continuation of the Board's 28 September 2013 and 17
November resolutions providing ICANN's President and CEO with a mandate to
explore how ICANN could coordinate with stakeholders from across the globe
to address the pressing issue of the future of Internet governance. On 28
September 2013, the Board directed the President and CEO to work towards
the establishment of a coalition to start an effort to form an Internet
cooperation agenda, and to do so in a manner consistent with ICANN's
mission. Following the September meeting, the President and CEO executed
the mandate of the 28 September 2013 Board resolution and helped facilitate
a number of activities, including: (i) the expansion and launch of a
previously announced strategy panel now entitled "Panel on the Future of
Internet Governance;" (ii) development of and participation in the "1net
initiative"; and (iii) encouraging the establishment of and support for a
meeting on multi-stakeholder Internet governance that is now likely to take
place in Brazil in April 2014.

On 17 November 2013, the Board approved Resolution2013.11.17.01 directing
the CEO to continue supporting the three emerging and evolving initiatives
and recognizes that ICANN, as part of the Internet ecosystem, is just one
of the many participants providing resources and support to the following
initiatives: (i) the expansion and launch of a previously announced
strategy panel now entitled "Panel on the Future of Internet Governance";
(ii) development and participation in the "1net initiative"; and (iii)
encouraging the establishment of and support for a meeting on
multi-stakeholder Internet governance that is now likely to take place in
Brazil in April 2014. The Board also noted in Resolution 2013.11.17.01 that
"without strengthening a global, coherent approach to Internet governance,
ongoing and emerging issues will not be properly addressed in a collective,
collaborate way, which may inadvertently affect the operational unity of
the Internet, consistent with ICANN's mandate."

ICANN and the multistakeholder model have been exposed to many challenges,
and ICANN must evolve to face the challenges. ICANN's mission and
responsibilities are to the global community and stakeholders worldwide. To
remain accountable to ICANN's mission and community, the Board recognizes
that as a multistakeholder organization ICANN must evolve to fully execute
on its mission, and be in a position to meet the challenges whether
operational, political or technical.

The continued globalization of ICANN must evolve in several ways,
including: partnerships in the broader Internet eco-system to strengthen
multistakeholder Internet governance frameworks; strengthening ICANN
itself, including affirmations of commitments and relationships among the
stakeholders; evolving the policy structures to serve and scale to the
needs of the global community, and identify opportunities for the future
legal structures and IANA globalization.

This is an Organizational Administrative Function for which public comment
is not required.

Published on 19 February 2014

rgds,

McTim

On Thu, Feb 20, 2014 at 2:56 AM, Ian Peter <ian.peter at ianpeter.com> wrote:

> Hi Mike,
>
> You make some good points below and I think your wording as regards
> dimensions of an acceptable solution are good and worth utilising. I am
> wondering if we should attempt some sort of submission to the Brazil
> meeting on a roadmap for this issue. Your words, and Georges, are a good
> start.
>
> But I wonder if a coherent statement is possible here or whether there is
> a better chance of some statement emanating from some other forum. As you
> mention, there are elements within the ICANN structure (and indeed
> elsewhere) who will resist any change. Some will change their mind if there
> is a better proposition, but some simply will not. They have power to lose.
>
> Some of these elements are upfront and honest about their resistance to
> any change. Others however, will just dig in and resist while not declaring
> that their actions are designed to preserve a status quo. We have a bit of
> each here. Those resisting may have the power to delay any action for a
> very long time - as evidenced by this issue being on the books for over a
> decade.
>
> The choice here is ICANN's. From the Montevideo statement, I read
> willingness to change. If ICANN wants to be part of the solution, it will
> have to find a way to ensure that it is able to act in an efficient and
> timely manner. If it can't, other solutions will be sought and advanced.
>
> Ian Peter
>
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Mike Roberts
> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 2:23 PM
> To: discuss at 1net.org List
> Subject: [discuss] Possible approaches to solving "problem no. 1"
>
>
> Some weeks ago, George set us on our current course with an excellent
> problem statement, which included a list of criteria or attributes of the
> new "place," that IANA might occupy.
>
> --------------------
> "5. Acceptable solutions for assignment of the IANA root zone function
> should meet several criteria: (1) protection of the root zone from
> political or other improper interference; (2) integrity, stability,
> continuity, security and robustness of the administration of the root zone;
> (3) widespread [international] trust by Internet users in the
> administration of this function; (4) support of a single unified root zone;
> and (5) agreement regarding an accountability mechanism for this function
> that is broadly accepted as being in the global public interest."
> ---------------------
>
> Subsequently, there has been good progress on addressing the substance of
> his memo, and related issues.  With occasional forays into dead ends, which
> I think have been adroitly dealt with in the last day or two via the
> "conflated" notes.
>
> As we near the dates for the Sao Paulo meeting, it is my impression that
> we have made more progress on the manner and process of IANA traveling from
> Point A - the status quo- to Point B - the new geotechnical niche, than we
> have in outlining the dimensions of the new home.  To push the metaphor, we
> have a street address, but at that location currently there is a pile of
> dirt.
>
> At the risk of (a) violating George's dictum to deal with issues in
> chewable bites, and (b) hazarding solutions to problems that have not been
> defined, or at the least not adequately vetted, I draw your attention to
> Patrik's post of today on the recent position statements of Swedish
> government officials on the matter before us.
>
> <http://www.circleid.com/posts/20140219_it_is_payback_
> time_government_of_sweden_on_internet_governance/>
>
> To state the obvious, these are carefully constructed, diplomatically
> nuanced, statements by individuals who know what they are talking about.
>
> I draw two conclusions from what I read here.
>
> - the solution space for IANA, and IG generally, very definitely involves
> governments.  To those who might prefer something else, I offer three
> words,"Get Over It."  Years ago, Jon Postel said, "Governments do count."
> Some things don't change.
>
> - the destination space for IANA and ICANN, assuming they continue to be
> conjoined, must be superior in several respects to the status quo in order
> to gain the support of the IG stakeholders who hold veto power for one
> reason or another.  In particular, it must:
>
>   - offer a legal structure that is no less robust against rogue
> litigation attacks than is the current arrangement, where the USG provides
> a solid backstop.
>
>   - be aligned with the Internet technical infrastructure in a way that
> supports innovative, technology based evolution of the DNS as good as or
> better than currently exists.
>
>   - be a political "safe harbor" or "neutral corner" that convinces
> governments, with good motives and bad, to leave it alone to do its
> important job.
>
>
> Finally, we should not underestimate the extent to which ICANN has, under
> recent management, solidified its support among important stakeholder
> groups.  As evidenced by submissions to this list, among other things, a
> number of them do not yet see a persuasive rationale for moving from Point
> A to Point B.  Until they do, not much is going to happen.
>
> Regards,
>
> - Mike
>
> -
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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