[Chapter-delegates] ISOC Board Meeting and Resolution to Support Evolution of W3C Organizational Structure

[Raúl Echeberría]

Dear Colleagues,

At this month's meeting, the ISOC Board of Trustees passed a  
resolution in support of the W3C's efforts to provide a more agile,  
inclusive, and flexible organizational structure in support of the Web  
community. The resolution approved an agreement for ISOC to provide  
the W3C staff expertise in complementary areas, as well as funding.

I would like to share directly with you more information about the  
Board's decision.

First, a significant portion of ISOC's mission can be described as  
working to keep the Internet Ecosystem healthy. ISOC and W3C have been  
partners in supporting the message of a global open Internet, and we  
have worked together to promote this vision. We expect the agreement  
to strengthen this collaboration.

Second, a main role of the W3C is to support the development and  
maintenance of Web-focused standards. The resolution makes particular  
note that the W3C's standards process will continue to be independent.  
To be clear: ISOC's support will not encumber W3C's technical process.

Finally, this agreement does not affect other key ISOC programs and  
efforts. Specifically, it does not alter the relationship between ISOC  
and the IETF. Leadership of both the IETF and IAB were consulted in  
the process of the agreement's development.

Both ISOC and W3C strongly believe that open standards are key to the  
Internet's role as a platform for innovation around the world, and  
that this agreement broadens support for this belief. Both  
organizations will be in close consultation to ensure the agreement is  
meeting its intended aims. The full text of the resolution and a  
jointly-developed FAQ will be posted on the ISOC and W3C websites soon.

Sincerely,

Raúl Echeberría, Chair
Internet Society Board of Trustees