[Chapter-delegates] Internet Society Appointments to theNTIA/IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group

[Richard Hill]

In democracies, the ultimate authority (parliament) is elected by all those
affected, it is not chosen by a NomCom.

Best,
Richard
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Chapter-delegates
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org]On Behalf Of Eric Burger
  Sent: jeudi, 3. juillet 2014 18:07
  To: Chapter Delegates
  Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Internet Society Appointments to
theNTIA/IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group


  One can take this argument ab absurdum. Are outside board members not
independent because they get compensation? Are independent auditors not
really independent because the corporation pays the auditor’s bills? Is a
random lottery of individuals from around the world not really independent
because their businesses rely on a domain name?


  I am not necessarily defending a self-selecting board. However, I am
wondering if this is not a case of “Democracy is the worst form of
government, except for the alternatives”?




  On Jul 3, 2014, at 11:56 AM, Miller, Stephen H (Basrah)
<MillerSH at state.gov> wrote:


    +1.  A little-discussed fact is that ICANN essentially selects its own
Board (and so its own oversight) through NomCom and related procedures.  A
general principle of effective oversight, or auditing, or corporate
governance—whatever kind of oversight—is structural independence from the
entity being overseen.   In the case of IANA, whatever the political or
optical issues with NTIA, that separation was clear.  Going into uncharted
waters with this process, it may be natural for ICANN to want to direct it
and subsume it into its own organization and structure.  But well-defined
outside oversight is probably the best and most efficient guarantor of
accountability.  I think Evan has put his finger on the biggest danger in
this process, imho.

    -SHM

    From: Chapter-delegates
[mailto:chapter-delegates-bounces at elists.isoc.org] On Behalf Of Evan
Leibovitch
    Sent: Thursday, July 03, 2014 6:47 PM
    To: Alejandro Pisanty
    Cc: Chapter Delegates; Demi Getschko
    Subject: Re: [Chapter-delegates] Internet Society Appointments to the
NTIA/IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group

    On 3 July 2014 05:46, Alejandro Pisanty <apisanty at gmail.com> wrote:

      ISOC is the only member of the Coordination Group that is not
simultaneously a directly interested party, a "client" of IANA or a
structural participant in ICANN.


    FWIW, I would also generally add to that set of characteristics, the
people currently being considered to fill the spots on the CG by ICANN
At-Large. While coming from a "structural participant in ICANN", the
At-Large delegates are also non-conflicted, and seek to protect the
interests of those who are neither sellers nor buyers of domains. (Indeed,
such perspective of At-Large is mandated in the ICANN bylaws.)  It is no
coincidence that so many ISOC chapters are also At-Large Structures.

    The ALAC and ISOC delegates have highly common interest at the CG, and
the potential to be an effective coalition. No doubt there will be other,
self-interested coalitions with which they will need to contend.

    I have already been hearing from some corners of ICANN a sentiment that
oversight of IANA should "naturally" fall to those with whom ICANN has
contractual relations. If carried through to its logical conclusion this
perspective would, in effect, put the regulated in change of the regulator;
it needs to be resisted.

    Indeed, a trusted insider has suggested to me that the reference by some
within ICANN to the current situation as "IANA transition" (as opposed to
the more accurate "IANA stewardship transition") is deliberate, and an
attempt to shift (or at least blur) the focus.

    This will indeed be an interesting environment.

    - Evan


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