More problems with ICANN Excerpts from: http://www.intgov.apdip.net/apdip_new/detail_headline_gkiiwriteup.htm The guiding objectives for these efforts envision open, fair and equitable international participation as well as bottom-up self co-ordination by the Internet community. However commendable these aims might be, it is argued that the design of the reform process contains some serious conceptual flaws, which lead to a reform reality that is plagued by a number of shortcomings. At the centre of our concerns is the problem, that the current reform process is mostly negotiated outside the established structures for international co-operation, which have been carefully crafted to safeguard national sovereignty, due process and equitable participation and have been endorsed by the International community through a formal process of information, participation and representation. Bypassing these structures that lend truly international political legitimacy and accountability to Internet governance and entrusting a private organisation incorporated under California law with this considerable challenge is neither adequate nor acceptable. Shortcomings in the current Internet governance system are manifold and include: - ICANN directly depends on U.S. government. - Review and oversight only available within U.S. polity. - ICANN has already taken far reaching decisions already with non-elected interim board members. - Inadequate participation by developing countries in ICANN's governmental forum. - The international settlement of charges for Internet infrastructure disfavours developing countries. - Danger of big-business bias - Insecure funding basis for ICANN - A gloomy scenario - forward to the past? Respectfully, Jay Fenello, New Media Relations ------------------------------------ http://www.fenello.com 770-392-9480 "We are creating the most significant new jurisdiction we've known since the Louisiana purchase, yet we are building it just outside the constitution's review." -- Larry Lessig, Harvard Law School, on ICANN
