Re: [ALSC-Forum] Feedback on Draft Report

[Stephen Waters]

On 31 Aug 2001 23:30:29 +1200, DPF wrote:
> However will requiring a domain name make much of a change?  I suspect
> introducing a membership fee will be the larger deterrent.

Indeed, but as others have pointed out, you then have the problem of the
poll tax (or worse, landowners only!) which can intentionally or
inadvertently disenfranchise the impoverished.

Example: A well-informed woman from Morocco intends to vote in ICANN
elections using the local Internet cafe, but cannot afford the
membership fee in addition to her access fees and other household
expenses.

A blue-sky funding possibility for future elections: 

At our local elementary school, the PTA has sponsored a Spanish program
so that the kids will have a chance to start learning another language
when it is easiest. The PTA spends a lot of effort encouraging parents
to pay a specific amount for the program, even though technically it is
free... i.e., they will not force children of non-paying parents out of
the program.

You'd think there'd be a free rider problem, but there hasn't been so
far. This is because 1) The PTA does not treat it as a donation in their
newsletters and forms. It is treated as payment for services rendered.
Psychology in action. 2) Parents' children are receiving a specific,
obvious intellectual benefit from the program... It's not just another
lousy t-shirt from PBS.

Consequently, I think ICANN should open up shares of "stock" in itself
to the At-Large member community. As a non-profit, I'm not sure what
limitations they have in this area (maybe you couldn't even call it
stock), but at least as an At-Large member I could in some way have a
specific interest in ICANN itself, not just the results of their
decisions.

Just an idea,
Stephen Waters
Austin, TX