On Thu, 4 Feb 1999, Dave Crocker wrote:
> At 08:11 AM 2/4/99 +0000, Jim Dixon wrote:
> >2 and that the proceedings of the ICANN board are private, which
> > is wholly inappropriate for a group holding a great public trust,
> > but appointed by a secret process and accountable to no one
>
> The claim of non-accountability is false in several regards.
Well, perhaps you have a personal private definition of the term you
might want to share with us.
In the UK the various Internet bodies are set up as companies limited
by guarantee. They have members. When the board suggests something
silly, they can be (and are) called to task by the members. If they
ignore the membership, one or all directors can be removed. That is,
the UK bodies are accountable in the normal sense of the term.
Precisely who is the ICANN board accountable to? No one but
themselves.
> As to secret selection processes, you might want to note that IETF and IAB
> appointments are through a group that deliberates in private and the the
> IETF and IAB have closed decision-making meetings.
Be serious. We don't even know for sure how the ICANN board was
selected. Recall that Joe Simms testified to Congress that he didn't know.
> These are by no means the only groups that behave in this fashion AND have
I beg to differ. I know of no similar Internet group of any importance
selected by a similar secret process.
> plenty of community support, but I thought the irony of being able to cite
> them in this context would be appealing.
--
Jim Dixon Managing Director
VBCnet GB Ltd http://www.vbc.net tel +44 117 929 1316
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Member of Council Telecommunications Director
Internet Services Providers Association EuroISPA EEIG
http://www.ispa.org.uk http://www.euroispa.org
tel +44 171 976 0679 tel +32 2 503 22 65
