[Chapter-delegates] ISOC nominees must discuss ISOC's exclusion, financial support for chapters, board independence, finding waste

[Dave Burstein]

Folks
I'm putting myself forward for the nomcom because I believe that all
trustees should *address* the biggest issues in ISOC: exclusion, chapter
support, independent review, US government ties, and financial waste.

*I am not saying anyone should be excluded for her views, merely that they
explain them publicly as part of the process. *

ISOC has a $30M annual subsidy from .org. We can and should be the most
active organization ensuring the Internet is for everyone. It's worth
fighting for.

I would seek opinions on issues including:

*Should the majority of the Internet be effectively excluded from the ISOC
board and leadership?* Asia, Africa, and Latin America - the global south -
now have twice as many Internet users as the US and allies in the global
north. (See The Color Of The Net Has Changed
<https://netpolicynews.com/index.php/89-r/1015-the-color-of-the-net-has-changed>)
India now has more Internet users than the US; China, about three times as
many. 7 of 12 trustees are from the US and Canada. Only two of the twelve
are from the global south. China is 25%-40% of the net, depending on the
measure. The total exclusion of China is an unacknowledged policy. The
Internet is for everyone?

*Should the chapters have 3-10% of ISOC's budget? *ISOC has lost ~70% of
our members the last few years, according to our web site. Most chapters
have only a handful of active members if that. It's time to stop starving
the chapters.

*Should the board be independent?* In the last 8 years, I have not seen any
evidence that the board is supervising ISOC. I can't think of any time the
board has overruled the CEO, who runs a top-down organization.

*Should ISOC be part of the "DC consensus" or is the Global South sometimes
right?* In 2018, I reviewed six years of ISOC international policy and did
not find a single instance where ISOC disagre4ed with the US government
position. I asked the CEO and the VP of policy and they had no examples
either. Some of the issues that divided the north and the south were the
cartel-like pricing of Internet backhaul and transport and the non-payment
of taxes by the multilateral giants. I don't think the US was right on
either.

*Should the board look for waste in ISOC? *We all know there is a great
deal of unnecessary spending.

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I will be happy to step aside if others step up for these issues. Again,
I'm not insisting that board candidates agree with my positions, merely
that the candidates make clear what they believe.

I doubt I will be selected because the leadership of ISOC wants a
harmonious society.

But here are some credentials:
I have been a chapter officer since 2011 in New York.
I have been active in Internet policy for 15 years. I am a member of the
ITU Focus Group 2030, which is setting the guidelines for 6G. I've written
a book on DSL, another on web video, and am wrapping up a book on 5G. I am
on the US State Department International Telecommunications Advisory
Committee (where I often am in a minority of one or two on north-south
issues.)

I've written about the Internet internationally since 1999. My work has
been quoted by the *NY Times, WSJ, & Washington Post.* I've attended major
ITU meetings including the WCIT and the plenipot, paying my own expenses.
I've interviewed the current and previous ITU Secretary Generals and most
of the major ITU officials.

I've volunteered in two community networks, which I continue to support, as
well as numerous coops and community groups. I've done many Wikipedia edits.
blah, blah, blah
Do take a look at wirelessone.news, fastnet.news, and netpolicynews.com to
see the quality of my work.
------

I believe everyone in policy should make clear where their money comes
from. I earn my living writing about the Internet, broadband including
wireless. I've had no financial ties with any of the carriers or advocacy
organizations for since I did some consulting for bell canada a decade ago.

I am paid by, and sell advertising to, numerous manufacturers in telecom
and accept expenses to events. I write analytic reports on topics like 5G
strategies for independent groups like STL Partners, who in turn work with
many carriers.

I'm on good personal terms with many at all the companies, trade groups,
regulators including the FCC, some ISOC and ICANN board members, and even a
number of lobbyists. My main work is with the technical community. I do my
best to represent the public interest, even if it undermines my friends'
positions.
---------------------

ISOC has a mission to bring the Internet to everyone. We can do it better.

Dave

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<http://wirelessone.news>
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