[Chapter-delegates] Join our call to stop the sale of .org

[Alexander Blom]

Dear all,

We call on ISOC Global to reverse the sale of the .ORG domain to private
equity firm Ethos Capital.
We invite all ISOC chapters across the world to join us in this statement.

In May 2002, ICANN formulated a number of criteria for the reassignment of
the .org Top Level Domain, amongst which:

   - Inclusion of mechanisms for promoting the registry's operation in a
   manner that is responsive to the needs, concerns, and views of the
   noncommercial Internet user community.
   - Demonstrated support among registrants in the .org TLD, particularly
   those actually using .org domain names for noncommercial purposes
   - The registry fee charged to accredited registrars should be as low as
   feasible consistent with the maintenance of good-quality service.

In response, upon selection, then ISOC Global President Lynn St. Amour
issued the following statement: "We are thrilled to have this opportunity
to serve the worldwide .ORG community and are dedicated to making .ORG a
truly global home that will serve the unique interests of non-commercial
organizations on the Internet."

We believe that the 2019 decision of ISOC Global to sell PIR to private
equity firm Ethos Capital is not in line with ICANN’s criteria from 2002
and the subsequent promise from ISOC Global.
Despite ISOC Global's assurances to the contrary, we share the misgivings
of the international community about giving a single privately owned entity
the power to raise tariffs, implement rights protection mechanisms possibly
leading to censorship, and suspend domains at the request of local
governments.
We also fear that ISOC Global's reputation has been severely harmed by even
contemplating this transaction.

We therefore call on ISOC Global's leadership to reverse this decision, and
do its utmost to restore faith in ISOC as the one global organisation that
through its many professionals and dedicated volunteers sincerely strives
for an internet for everyone.

We invite all ISOC chapters to join us in this statement by responding to
this message.

On behalf of the Internet Society Netherlands Chapter,

Alex Blom
Chairman
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