Re: [ga] GNSO Meeting -- Washington DC -- Feb. 24/25

["kidsearch" <kidsearch@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

What is the date of the meeting? I'm headed for New York and DC from about
the 19th through the 26th.

I would thoroughly love to attend and provide input in my usual *subtle*
way.

Chris McElroy
http://www.newsandmediablog.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Danny Younger" <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 8:43 AM
Subject: [ga] GNSO Meeting -- Washington DC -- Feb. 24/25


> Milton Mueller has just posted this note to the NCUC
> list:
>
> Based on information supplied to me by our GNSO
> Council members, we learn that the Council is thinking
> of having a physical meeting in late February in
> Washington DC on new gTLDs.
>
> Superficially, it appears that the Council is holding
> this meeting to "make progress on policy drafting" in
> a face to face meeting in order to be ready for the
> Wellington meeting. But take a closer look.
>
> The meeting is also being held to "provide an
> opportunity for any additional public comment on the
> reports published so far." What that means, basically,
> is that it provides an opportunity for
> Washington-based business lobbies (i.e., intellectual
> property and BC) to come in and lobby the proceedings
> in force. And it puts the whole thing before a US
> government audience, just so we know who really calls
> the shots.
> Naturally, the meeting was proposed by Marilyn Cade,
> who has altruistically volunteered to take charge of
> the arrangements.
>
> There is really no excuse for this.
>
> I urge our Council members to start raising tough
> questions about the alleged purpose of this proposed
> meeting.
>
> Holding this meeting in Washington and accepting
> "public comment" turns this into a lobbying meeting
> that will easily be dominated by Washington insiders,
> the BC, IPC and incumbent registries, all of whom have
> good reasons to be hostile to new gTLDs. This is a
> transparent political ploy. What does this say to the
> people in Asia, Africa and Latin America and even
> Europe, that when the Council has to make a crucial
> decision it sets up shop in Washington with a month's
> notice and opens its doors to lobbyists?
>
> If the Council really needs to have a f2f meeting to
> help it work out a common position, its members should
> get together as far away from Washington DC as
> possible, and they should keep ALL lobbying and
> pressure from interest groups as far away from them as
> possible!!!
>
> We have heard the same arguments for and against new
> gTLDs for years. We don't need more comment and
> lobbying. We need to make decisions. The idea that the
> council and its constituencies don't know what their
> position is, or need to hear more, is ridiculous. What
> needs to happen is for the various constituencies to
> put their heads together and come up with a common
> position.
>
> End message.
>
> From Danny:  If any of you can attend the DC session,
> please write to me off-list
> (dannyyounger[at]yahoo.com) and we will coordinate our
> activities and/or travel arrangements.
>
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