RE: [ga] Can someone explain how ICANN spends $1 million/yr+ on telephone costs?

["Debbie Garside" <debbie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi

I have to say, I would be interested to see a break down of the $1 million
spent on communications.  I also think that if anything over (say) 50% of
this figure is being paid to one organization this should be made public.
It is an extraordinary amount!  

IMHO, there also ought to be a competitive tender process put into place in
the near future - if, indeed, there isn't already.  Do ICANN have a
procurement policy?  

However, on the subject of staff remuneration being in the 50-70th
percentile,  have you seen how much flack they get in their job - much of it
coming from this list!  Above and beyond the call of duty!  Can you imagine
working everyday whilst having to look over your shoulder for the 3 wise
monkeys armed with knives winging their way towards you should you so much
as tip over the tippex!

Best

Debbie




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
George Kirikos
Sent: 05 February 2009 00:37
To: ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Roberto Gaetano
Subject: RE: [ga] Can someone explain how ICANN spends $1 million/yr+ on
telephone costs?



Hi Roberto,

--- On Wed, 2/4/09, Roberto Gaetano <roberto@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> As far as I know the telephone costs include the costs of
> all
> teleconferences for all ICANN bodies (Board, Board
> committees, working
> groups, SOs, ALAC, RALOs, etc.)
> Before we start arguing about skype and other means
> available in the
> developed countries, let's remind that these calls have
> to be joined by
> folks who are all over the world.


Thanks for replying. It still sounds like a lot of money to me, given that
if one does a search in Google for "conference calls", there are a lot of
providers out there willing to do it for 4 cents/minute per user or less
(and one can probably negotiate it to be less given the scale at which ICANN
is spending, presumably six figures). Of course non-US or non-Euro calls
might be a bit higher, but if one combines VOIP with purchases of DID
forwarding numbers in certain countries, the costs have really been going
down over the past few years. And if it could be 4 cents/minute for 95% of
users, and the other 5% get subsidized calls (send them a calling card or
something). Tender things out, and see what happens (I'd be curious to know
the current average cost per minute per user, for example).

Perhaps create a bounty, let ICANN staff keep 10% of the cost savings as a
one-time bonus, weighted towards the individual(s) responsible for finding
the savings or efficiencies. This would provide some incentives to be
frugal, especially in the current economic climate. Right now, there doesn't
seem to be any urgency on ICANN's part to find cost savings. They should be
trying harder, as it's our money they're spending.

As you are likely aware, $4.6 million was lost in the stock market by ICANN:

http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090203_icann_blows_46_million_stock_market/

and ICANN has been paying salaries above what they should be:

http://www.circleid.com/posts/20090105_icann_for_profit_companies_comparable
s/

I don't care what people do with their own money, but when they're spending
other people's money they have the highest duty to ensure that those funds
are spent wisely, down to the last penny.

Sincerely,

George Kirikos
http://www.leap.com/



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