[Chapter-delegates] [Internet Policy] Moderation of list (was Re: 202106270936.AYC …)

[Andrew Sullivan]

Hi,

On Tue, Jul 06, 2021 at 08:02:53AM -0400, Veni Markovski via Chapter-delegates wrote

>Perhaps better communication? While you are correct that I am not a
>member of *all* these groups, but only of two (chapters, former
>Trustees), it would be strange if ISOC is actually reaching out to the
>org members, IETF and IAB, but not to the two I am a member of.

I think the staff _do_ reach out to chapters, and have incorporated feedback into the work we are doing.  So I think I may not really understand what your concern is, but there may be some more below.

>see what solutions could be provided nationally and regionally, and then
>perhaps prepare some global positions? I am sure that among the chapters

We went through the entire PDP last year over the Internet Way of Networking project, and there is follow-on work for some additional specificity that will come to PDP this year, too, precisely because of feedback from people who used the toolkit and wanted some additional material.  Isn't that exactly what you are asking for?

>Here's one examples: ISOC Bulgaria has been approached several times
>this year by the Bulgarian telecom administration with questions about
>certain issues, happening at the ITU with the renewed and publicly
>stated position of several member states vis-a-vis the issue of Internet
>governance and the role of states.
>ISOC is following these developments, right? Maybe it should reach out
>to chapters and other members, asking them questions about these latest
>developments?

This is the first I have heard of the approach you are talking about from the Bulgarian administration, but your proposed solution seems at best awkward.  You are suggesting that the Internet Society staff ought to be polling everyone all the time to ask them whether there are any local developments.  Why would it not be more effective for a chapter that wants to know what the Internet Society staff might help them with on a topic to approach the relevant staff person who works with the chapter, and ask that?  I know that's what some chapters do, and they seem to be satisfied with the result (according to the feedback I get).  It's certainly why we have staff who are there to respond to chapter questions.

>Again, a lot can be done to preserve the open, single, interoperable
>Internet, developing in a multistakeholder environment; if ISOC is doing
>it, then we should hear about it.

Have you read the 2020 impact report?  Have you followed the updates from various projects that come in the newsletters we send?  That's what we're doing.  It is certainly true that we're not doing enough given all the threats, but we have a fairly small staff and budget to cover all the world with all the threats toward the Internet, so we have to pick some things.  The Action Plan contains the things we picked, and I think the staff is doing a good job communicating about what they are doing (I will freely grant that it may not always have been the case, but I am fresh out of time machines just now so I can't change the past).

We are not in a position to direct chapters as to what to do, because they are formally independent organizations.  But we certainly welcome collaboration with any chapter and if you think your chapter wishes to collaborate more closely on something I think it is worth having that conversation with your regional community manager.

Best regards,

A


-- 
Andrew Sullivan
President & CEO, Internet Society
sullivan at isoc.org
+1 416 731 1261