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ALAC Statement on the ICANN Strategy Panels: ICANN's Role in the Internet Governance Ecosystem

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Introduction

Holly Raiche, ALAC member from the Asian, Australian and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO) and ALAC Leadership Team member composed an initial draft of this Statement [PDF, 240 KB] after discussion of the topic within At-Large and on the Mailing Lists.

On 30 April 2014, this Statement was posted on the At-Large ICANN Strategy Panels Workspace.

On 02 May 2014, Olivier Crépin-Leblond, Chair of the ALAC, requested ICANN Policy Staff in support of the ALAC to send a Call for Comments on the Recommendations to all At-Large members via the ALAC-Announce Mailing List.

On 08 May 2014, a version incorporating the comments received was posted on the aforementioned workspace and the Chair requested that Staff open an ALAC ratification vote on the proposed Statement on 09 May 2014 and close on 15 May 2014.

On that same day, the Chair requested that the Statement, referenced AL-ALAC-ST-0514-02-00-EN, be transmitted to the Public Comment process, copying the ICANN Staff member responsible for this Public Comment topic, with a note that the Statement was pending ALAC ratification.

On 16 May 2014, Staff confirmed that the online vote resulted in the ALAC endorsing the Statement with 14 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. You may review the result independently under: https://www.bigpulse.com/pollresults?code=3897Mv3KfEPxzifKaIuzmd4F.

Summary

  1. The ALAC strongly supports the report from the Panel on ICANN's Role in the Internet Governance Ecosystem, particularly its conclusion that 'the multistakeholder model is by far preferable and should be elaborated and reinforced'.
  2. The diagram on Governance, grouped into the Logical layer and Infrastructure Layer is a very helpful way to conceptualize Internet governance issues.
  3. The Panel's discussions under the following headings also have some very useful pointers on directions for ICANN's new role in: Globalize not internationalize, Consolidation and simplification of root-zone management, and a web of affirmation of commitments.
  4. Globalizing the process of accountability through a web of relationships and suggesting accountability panels is indeed a potential way forward but only if a panel can provide recourse. The ALAC has concerns about the practical workability of this scenario but is ready to assist.