On 2012-12-19, at 4:15 PM, Mitchell Baker <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm proposing we create an Internet Public Policy Module, as described below. 
>  I'm also proposing the Module Owner be Harvey Anderson. Harvey's been 
> leading the global side of our public policy issues for a while now.  Having 
> a Module notes this, and also makes it easier to know where to go for policy 
> topics.
> 
> For now, I've proposed this newsgroup as the discussion point, but I'm not 
> sure that's right.  Perhaps a new discussion forum would be better.

My belief is that this group (which I think is an excellent idea) will draw in 
passionate and talented people who are deeply committed to a better internet, 
but not _that_ interested in Mozilla's internal policy discussions.   

Thinking about the discussion that happened in the past on issues from ITU to 
COPPA, I doubt the membership of this group is the right "default" audience.  I 
believe having to "join" an internet policy discussion would make it easier for 
people to seek out background information and start with a learning stance.

If Harvey in particular agrees, we should probably create a bespoke place of 
discussion (both discussion forum & bugzilla component). 

I also wonder whether influencing public policy is something that, possibly 
controversially, sometimes will need a non-public space to discuss possible 
actions.  In a somewhat paradoxical way, making it possible for the Internet 
Public Policy Module to have private conversations may make it easier for 
Harvey et peers to effectively collect the input of a broader set of informed 
contributors.  Whether or not there's a secondary semi-private group, I'm sure 
Harvey will encourage people who have ideas that shouldn't be discussed in 
public yet to reach out to him.

--david

_______________________________________________
governance mailing list
[email protected]
https://lists.mozilla.org/listinfo/governance

Reply via email to