Rhonda and all,
Very interesting article indeed. Let's hope that the ICANN Interim Board
has bothered to really pay attention.
Ronda Hauben wrote:
> Following is from an article in TELEPOLIS titled
>
> Cone of Silence
> ICANN or Internet democracy is failing
>
> by John Horvath
>
> URL: http://www.heise.de/tp/english/inhalt/te/2837/1.html
>
> an excerpt follows:
>
> "...There's a battle being waged behind the scenes that many
> of us don't know about - even those whose lives have now become
> dependent on computer mediated communication systems like the
> Internet. The process to hand over government control of the
> Internet to a private body - a process which was formulated
> last summer and initiated toward the end of that same year
> - has been rife with problems that various sides are continually
> struggling to deal with.
>
> While many people who use the Internet will have heard about this
> process and the organisation involved - ICANN , to which the whole
> process has become synonymous - the truth of the matter is that for
> the vast majority it is something relatively unknown. Indeed, there's
> been a "cone of silence" over the issue, and for those involved that's
> just the way they like it.
>
> In order to try and break this cone of silence and to better
> understand what is really at stake, what will be looked at is the
> origin and evolution of the process and the organisation it has
> created, ICANN. Its first moves and the corresponding negative
> reaction that gave the whole process a stillborn start will be
> examined, along with ways in which attempts have been made to rescue
> the process. This will be followed by a more in-depth look at those
> for and against ICANN and the process, along with some observations as
> to how and why the silent complicity that surrounds the issue exists.
>
> In the end, it will be shown how the issue is not just one involving
> the transformation of the Internet from a government body to a private
> one, but strikes at the very heart of democracy in the digital age. It
> also affects the emergence of a new form of civic discourse, one that
> transcends the limits of physical space. In fact, it's something which
> will profoundly change our lives, and unless more attention is paid to
> what is actually going on behind the scenes, a future will be built
> for us that will run counter to many of our hopes and expectations."
>
> (see URL for rest of article)
>
> Also there is an ICANN meeting in Berlin scheduled for
> May 25-27.
Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact Number: 972-447-1894
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
