RE: [ga] ICANN Ombudsman??

["Michael D. Palage" <michael@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Karl:

I am always listening :-)

Although this email may get a "When Pigs Fly Icon" on ICANNWatch, I think
things are heading in the right direction.

In fact I was surprised by the number of directors that read ICANNWatch to
hear what the people are saying. Although I may not always agree with you
and the other GA members I am listening, because much like yourself I will
be returning to my humble origins with the huddled masses in the not to
distance future.

Best regards,

Michael D. Palage



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf
Of Karl Auerbach
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2003 9:49 PM
To: Sandy Harris
Cc: ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ga] ICANN Ombudsman??


On Mon, 8 Dec 2003, Sandy Harris wrote:

> > I find it interesting that he said folks can go to an ICANN ombudsman.

I found the ombudsman "reform" to be laughable.

Every one of ICANN's directors has the power to be an ombudsman - in fact
every one of ICANN's directors has not merely the irrevocable legal power,
but also the fiduciary obligation to inquire into the proper operation of
ICANN, the corporation.

Unfortunately ICANN's directors, by and large, have been inexcusably
passive with regard to their duties and to matters that protect the
interests of the community of internet users.

In any accountable organization, those for whose benefit the corporation
exists - in ICANN's case this is "the public" - would have the power to
elect a new, responsive board.  A responsive board would obviate an
ombudsman.

ICANN's ombudsman is nothing but a fig leaf.  It goes along with ICANN's
other fig leaves - such as the fictional story that ICANN "oversees" the
net when in fact it has no power over IP address allocations or the stable
operation of any root server except IANA's.

		--karl--