[Chapter-delegates] ISOC Wrap-up ITU 2013 World Telecom/ICT Policy Forum

[Karen Mulberry]

Internet Society Wrap-up

ITU 2013 World Telecom/ICT Policy Forum

Summary:

Overall, the World Telecommunications Policy Forum (WTPF) proved to be a positive, constructive event to support dialogue on a critical topic – international Internet public policy issues.  In the run-up to the meeting, there was understandable concern that the schisms that emerged during the WCIT in Dubai would reemerge at the WTPF, particularly given the theme of the WTPF.   While this did not happen, it is clear that many governments, particularly in developing countries, remain concerned about the framework for Internet governance.   It seems likely that the question about the role of governments (and, by extension, the ITU) in the multistakeholder Internet model will be the crux of the Internet policy dialogue for the coming 14-18 months.

Strategic Dialogue:
The ITU hosted a High-level Strategic Dialogue on 13 May to discuss the theme “Building our Broadband Future”.  ISOC’s CEO, Lynn St Amour participated in the first session on “Building out Broadband” where she highlighted the important difference between Broadband and the Internet and emphasized the need to keep the Open Internet in mind in any strategic framework for broadband.

ISOC’s summary of the Strategic Dialogue may be found here: http://bit.ly/11fecly

ITU World Telecom/ICT Policy Forum
The WTPF opened on a very positive note with statements from the ITU Secretary General about the need for building bridges and allowing for open dialogue.  On the margins of the meeting, there was a lingering question about whether the debate would pick up right where the WCIT left off or whether WTPF participants would seek a different path.   Early on, it became clear that there was a strong desire not to repeat the divisive debate from the WCIT.   Many participants expressed support for the work of the Informal Experts Group (IEG) and very few countries sought to reopen the draft Opinions that had been developed through the IEG.  As a result, the work progressed quickly and without much fanfare.

Organization:  The WTPF was chaired by H.E. Mr Ivo Ivanovski, Minister of Information Society, TFYR Macedonia.  The work was organized into three Working Groups, each of which was assigned 2 draft Opinions for discussion.   Opinions 2, 5, and 6 had minor wording changes while Opinions 1, 3 and 4 were adopted without change.

Debate:  The majority of the debate during the WTPF focused on the question of the role of governments in the multistakeholder model of Internet governance.   Brazil put forward a 7th draft Opinion entitled, The Role of Government in the Multistakeholder Framework for Internet Governance, that garnered a great deal of discussion from the WTPF participants.  In an effort to address the various concerns with its original Opinion, Brazil offered a revised Opinion 7 on the morning of the last day but it was generally agreed that there was insufficient time to fully consider the new draft.   Russia also submitted text and comments that called for shared understanding and international rules regarding the Internet.  While neither of these proposals was accepted by the WTPF, there was considerable support for further discussion about how to achieve clarity regarding the role of governments in the multistakeholder Internet governance framework.

A key question toward the end of the WTPF was where and how the discussion and dialogue would continue.  For some (including ISOC), the IGF is a logical place for open, multistakeholder dialogue.  Other countries noted that the ITU Council Working Group on international Internet related public policy issues (CWG-Internet) would be appropriate to continue this discussion.   A concern about the ITU Council Working Group is that it is a closed group open only to Member States (though there are some opportunities for consultations with stakeholders).   The ITU Secretary General in his closing remarks committed that he would ask the ITU Council at its June meeting to reconsider the structure of the CWG-Internet and open the group to more inclusive, multistakeholder participation.


ISOC WTPF Participation:
In 2012, the ITU launched the Informal Experts Group to prepare for the WTPF.   Constance Bommelaer of ISOC’s Public Policy team participated as a member of the IEG and submitted several ISOC comments on the draft Secretary General’s Report as well as on the draft Opinions. 

Prior to the WTPF, ISOC submitted formal comments on the six draft Opinions.  These comments were presented to the WTPF in the various Working Groups. 

ISOC President and CEO, Lynn St Amour led the ISOC delegation which included Markus Kummer, Walda Roseman, Sally Wentworth, Karen Mulberry, Michuki Mwangi, Jane Coffin and Kathy Sebuck.

During the opening plenary, ISOC delivered a statement, (http://bit.ly/19pqigV) in which we emphasized the need to work together in support of the multistakeholder model and to use this model to address the very real concerns of policymakers worldwide.


Thank you,

Karen Mulberry
Policy Advisor
Internet Society
mulberry at isoc.org
tel: +1.303.668.8855
www.isoc.org






-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://elists.isoc.org/mailman/private/chapter-delegates/attachments/20130528/2f79278b/attachment.htm>