Re: [ALSC-Forum] Re: The At Large Seats Should Not Be Eliminated

[Jeff Williams]

Esther and all stakeholders,

Esther Dyson wrote:

> thanks!
>
> a useful answer!

  Yes it was.  And one that has been stated in various ways for about
three years now, Esther...

>
>
> But note that at this point the committee is still asking questions and
> *soliciting* answers.

  Hummm?  Interesting response.  Not to many questions have been
ask on this forum from this committee that I and others have seen
thus far.  So where are these *questions* being ask?  What are
some of those *questions*?  Would it not be useful to have them
ask in this forum?

>
>
> Esther
>
> At 13:58 22.05.01, you wrote:
> >Esther Dyson wrote:
> > > I'm sorry, but I don't think there should be forbidden questions.  Our job
> > > is to consider the arguments, and the justifications.
> >
> >Then take the rationale behind my comment as an answer to your question.
> >Here's a draft answer to the question raised in the Committee's May minutes.
> >
> >   "Should At-Large Director seats be eliminated and individual
> >    involvement and representation addressed through the existing
> >    ICANN structure?"
> >
> >No. The seats should not be eliminated. The representational structure of
> >ICANN that existed at the time it was initially recognized by the U.S.
> >Department of Commence called for an 18 member Board, with nine Directors
> >elected by the Supporting Organizations and nine elected by the At Large
> >Internet community. To date, ICANN has elected only five Directors from the
> >At Large, and the model initially agreed among ICANN's founders, the
> >Department of Commerce, and members of the Internet community who
> >contributed to the organizational process has never been tried.
> >
> >To eliminate some or all of the At Large Director seats prior to the time
> >that all nine At Large Directors had been elected and seated would create a
> >deep and lasting distrust of the organization that it might never overcome.
> >Members of the Internet community might rightfully claim that the At Large
> >seats were eliminated because the Board had been captured by the Supporting
> >Organization interests who were elected first.
> >
> >While it may be appropriate to reexamine the representational structure of
> >the ICANN Board in the future, the ALSC believes it would be highly
> >inappropriate to eliminate any At Large representation at this time -- when
> >the seats to be eliminated have not yet been filled with duly elected
> >representatives. In the Committee's opinion, ICANN's most valuable asset is
> >the trust that it establishes with the Internet community, trust that would
> >be undermined, perhaps forever, by breaking the initial promise made to the
> >community for a Board equally balanced between Supporting Organization
> >special interests and the more general interests of the worldwide Internet
> >community.
> >
> >    ----
> >
> >Feel free to cut and paste.
> >
> >        -- Bret
> >
> >--
> >Bret Fausett | fausett@lextext.com | http://www.lextext.com
> >  HANCOCK, ROTHERT & BUNSHOFT, LLP
> >  515 So. Figueroa Street, 16th Floor, Los Angeles CA 90071
> >  Follow the ICANN Blog: http://www.lextext.com/icann
> >___________________________________________________________
>
> Esther Dyson                    Always make new mistakes!
> chairman, EDventure Holdings
> writer, Release 3.0 (on Website below)
> edyson@edventure.com
> 1 (212) 924-8800    --   fax  1 (212) 924-0240
> 104 Fifth Avenue (between 15th and 16th Streets; 20th floor)
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>
> High-Tech Forum in Europe: 7 to 9 November, Berlin
> PC FORUM: 24 to 27 March 2002, Scottsdale (Phoenix), Arizona

Regards,

--
Jeffrey A. Williams
Spokesman for INEGroup - (Over 118k members strong!)
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail jwkckid1@ix.netcom.com
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