[Chapter-delegates] ISOC-NY President: Last Words, New Vision

[David Solomonoff]

I'm thrilled that my resignation has inspired such a robust conversation!

One of the benefits of being a lame duck President is that I can now say 
whatever I want, not matter how outrageous - so I will.

I was disappointed that I wasn't offered the position of North American 
Regional Bureau Director but as we'll see, that's been very fortunate.

Here's my vision for both empowering the Chapters and strengthening ISOC 
overall.

It's true that ISOC is too centralized and beholden to special 
interests. But it's also important to remember that it's a small 
organization with limited resources and low visibility.

Asking ISOC for more funding, administrative support, etc. will never be 
enough for the Chapters to realize their full potential.

The solution is an independent, bottoms-up, decentralized alliance of 
the Chapters - and the many current and potential partners who share a 
vision of open technology and Internet freedom.

Let's call this vision from a parallel universe "Alt-ISOC". Alt-ISOC is 
based on many things ISOC-NY has already done or is currently working on.

Alt-ISOC is not just another nonprofit but multiple, loosely coupled 
entities with different legal statuses that allow it to do much more. It 
includes a forprofit that funds open technology and infrastructure 
buildout. It also includes a 501c6 or SuperPAC which can directly engage 
in political activities - and can partner with other groups to challenge 
incumbents and special interests in elections.

Alt-ISOC provides administrative services to the Chapters through a 
central Chapters Hub - a project ISOC-NY VP Carolina Coto is already 
working on. Funding is provided in part by Alt-ISOC providing services - 
charging a small administrative fee - and acting as a fiscal sponsor 
both to the Chapters as well as smaller partners. This was suggested by 
ISOC-NY Board member and Brooklyn Law professor Jonathan Askin. We're 
done this in the past for HackNY and HICAP, and are currently 
negotiating with NYC Mesh, a wireless community network.

One of services Alt-ISOC provides is a clearinghouse for every type of 
funding, job or internship opportunity, etc. that would be of benefit to 
it's members. Grants and investments include not just funding, but 
administrative and project management services, documentation and reporting.

Alt-ISOC is a bottoms-up organization that allows its local affiliates 
to challenge the status quo. It can provide research services such as 
Bruce Kushnick's New Networks to investigate political corruption and 
corporate malfeasance. It works with investigative journalists such as 
Carolina Coto's mother, Giannina Segnini, who just started a data 
journalism program at Columbia University and is looking for projects 
for her students.

Alt-ISOC shares ISOC's vision of an open Net accessible to all - but 
does not have to share specific policy positions. Here in NYC we're 
currently looking to engage the UN and local consulates - although we 
were warned off by ISOC. That warning missed the tremendous opportunity 
to engage countries that do not share the ISOC vision of 
multi-stakeholderism via a back-channel.

Alt-ISOC has a bigger vision and scope than ISOC, addressing issues 
around digital currencies and blockchain technologies, for example - as 
well as using those technologies to share resources and raise funds. It 
partners with libraries, schools and maker spaces so connectivity can 
empower education and local economic development.

ISOC would only be one of Alt-ISOC's many partners and affiliates. It 
would eventually dwarf ISOC but could empower in new ways as well.

After Monday I'll be available to help as soon as initial funding is 
available.

-- 
David Solomonoff, CEO
Zoetic Networks
11 North Pearl Street
Suite 1412
Albany, New York 12207-2709
646 732 1224
david.solomonoff at zoeticnetworks.com
http://zoeticnetworks.com
twitter @dsolomonoff
skype dsolomonoff