Hi Dave,
The engagement of Ogilvy resulted in many complaints
from the Internet community. Here is how I would
categorize these complaints, in order of importance:
1) Going public *before* going to the Net
2) Where is ICANN getting its funding?
3) Discount arrangements with Ogilvy.
Your comments only address item 3!
The biggest problem is ICANN going public *before*
their "plans" are even discussed with the Internet
community. The most recent example of this was the
trial balloon floated in the New York Times regarding
a lottery for new registrars.
Of course, a lottery is not a new idea. A few years
back, the IAHC proposed something similar. And a few
years back, the IAHC had to change their proposal after
receiving many objections from the Internet community.
Why would ICANN want to repeat a failed approach?
Why *wouldn't* ICANN want to learn from history, or
learn from those who were involved in that history?
What is ICANN's fear of going to the Net *first* --
what is the downside?
The second most common complaint had to do with funding.
Where is ICANN getting its funding? Who is paying their
bills? What *are* their bills?
All we have ever heard about funding is that GIP has
given ICANN $130,000, most of which has come from IBM.
That amount hardly covers the ICANN Board's travel
expenses, let alone the IANA staff. How in the world
are they going to pay for one of the most expensive
PR firms in the world, even at cost!
So while Esther may have an easy time agreeing with
your comments, Dave, I would very much like to see
Esther answer these other questions of substance.
Respectfully,
Jay Fenello
President, Iperdome, Inc.
404-943-0524 http://www.iperdome.com
At 2/6/99, 06:18 PM, Dave Farber wrote:
>Gordon,
>
>There is another view on the engagement of Ogilvy by ICANN. It is very common for not
>for profits to be helped by PR firms for payment that covers basically out of pocket
>expenses. I would assume that is the case with ICANN. PR firms offer a lot of
>services NOT JUST spin doctoring things. They often are very good at making sure the
>public knows what is going on via press releases and briefings. Often NFP do not have
>the staff with the time and energy to make sure that happens.
>
>I for one will give both Ogilbvy and ICANN the benefit of the doubt and believe that
>they are in fact doing this to improve the communications to the community and not to
>hide anything.
>
>I further assume that the ICANN Board and President will firmly insure that there is
>no spin control on what comes out and that they tell the whole truth and nothing but
>the truth.
>
>Esther, do you agree.
>
>Dave
>
