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Dear Andrew,<br>
<br>
thank you very much for conveying the news and proposing a way
forward.<br>
<br>
Before proceeding, I wanted to ask a couple of small questions:<br>
<br>
1. Ethos in its Statement on
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.keypointsabout.org/blog/statements-in-response-to-april-30-2020-decision-from-icann">https://www.keypointsabout.org/blog/statements-in-response-to-april-30-2020-decision-from-icann</a>
has mentioned "Ethos is evaluating its options at this time", after
putting ICANN's decision in doubt. The ISOC Statement on the same
page appears to question ICANN's following of its own Bylaws,
specifically not acting as a regulatory body which is alleged to be
in Article 1.<br>
A Reconsideration Process exists, as laid out in
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/accountability/reconsideration-en">https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/accountability/reconsideration-en</a>
- through your email below focussing on moving on, should we
understand that the Internet Society Board of Trustees has selected
*not* to file a Reconsideration? Has this "closure" already been
coordinated with Ethos?<br>
<br>
2. In the "agreement with Ethos Capital", is the Internet Society
protected by a termination clause that links to a limitation of
liability, in case things turn for the worse?<br>
<br>
3. How much has this Board and CEO led escapade cost the Internet
Society so far?<br>
<br>
Kindest regards,<br>
<br>
Olivier<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 01/05/2020 13:09, Andrew Sullivan
via Chapter-delegates wrote:<br>
</div>
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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Chapter
Delegates,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">Over
the past several months there has been much discussion and
interest within our community regarding the Internet
Society’s plan to sell Public Interest Registry (PIR),
operator of .ORG and other top-level domains, to Ethos
Capital. Under PIR’s registry</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">operator
agreements, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN) must consent to this (or any other) indirect
change of control in order for the transaction to move to
the next phase of the approval process. </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">ICANN
has announced</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">that
it does not consent to the transaction. ICANN’s decision
effectively means that the transaction cannot, and will not,
proceed.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">I
am, of course, disappointed by ICANN’s decision. ICANN took
much longer than it should have to render its decision, and
in my view, stretched beyond its own agreements and the
remit in its bylaws. I am also concerned that ICANN has
shown itself to be much more susceptible to political
pressure than its mandate would recommend. Nevertheless, I
am grateful that ICANN has now rendered a clear decision.
This decision means that the period of uncertainty is over.
In the future, we will continue to</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">rely
on our colleagues at PIR to provide exemplary registries in
rigorous compliance with their ICANN agreements, and to
continue to provide generous funding to the Internet
Society.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A">When the Internet
Society Trustees accepted the offer from Ethos in a
unanimous vote, they did so because they believed, and still
do, that the transaction would be good for the Internet
Society, good for PIR, and good for registrants in .ORG and
all the registries PIR operates. It’s not very often where
an opportunity presents itself that has advantages for
everyone. </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">When
we announced the proposed transaction, several people,</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">including
some in our own community, expressed unhappiness with it. I
want to acknowledge the criticism and emotions that greeted
the transaction. I know there are members of the Internet
Society who were angry and hurt by this proposal, and I am
sorry about that. </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">Several
people also expressed disappointment about how the sale was
handled. If we could have better apprised you, our
community, in advance of this sale, we would have. Requests
for large-scale</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">consultation
came from across our community; this was not something we
could possibly undertake. The months since the proposal was
announced have been hard on PIR’s staff, and an extended
consultation without any clear picture of what the possible
outcomes might be would have been worse for PIR and
therefore for .ORG. Neither the Trustees nor I believed we
could undertake such a consultation without damaging PIR,
which would itself be harmful to the community that relies
on .ORG.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">Our
community has been through a trial, and to address it,</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">the
Board of Trustees has already embarked on efforts to repair
our bonds. While there were differing views about aspects of
the proposed transfer, we have a unity forged in our shared
commitment to the Internet, and our collective will to build
a stronger and more accessible Internet is as assured as
ever.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">The
organization has continued to develop its staff function to
better respond to community needs, and to make sure that our
work is both demonstrably useful to the Internet and
relevant to its needs. We have received positive feedback
about both the report of our 2019 activities and the Action
Plan for 2020. Our work on encryption, protocols, global
routing, time security, community networks, and other
priorities are moving with pace. Together we have work to
do, especially at this time of global crisis when reliance
on communication –</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">and
especially the Internet -</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">is
critical</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A;background:white">for
society.</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:11.25pt"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica
Neue";color:#C1C1C1"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:#1A1A1A">We will continue to
grow the operations of the Internet Society Foundation, and
we will keep working with our partners at PIR to ensure that
the Internet Society can continue to build, promote and
defend the Internet. In no way will this disrupt or slow the
work of the Internet Society, our chapters or members, to
achieve our vision of an Internet for everyone.</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Andrew
Sullivan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">President
& CEO, Internet Society<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><a
href="mailto:sullivan@isoc.org" moz-do-not-send="true">sullivan@isoc.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<br>
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<pre class="moz-quote-pre" wrap="">_______________________________________________
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