[ALSC-Forum] Zoe Baird Statement

[Stefaan G.Verhulst]

EMBARGO 31 August 2001

STATEMENT ON ICANN BY ZOE BAIRD,
President of the Markle Foundation

New York, 31 August 2001 - Zoe Baird, President of the Markle Foundation,
today released the following statement upon the issuance of the ICANN At
Large Study Committee Report and the NGO and Academic ICANN Study:

"The two reports released this week correctly conclude that ICANN can no
longer be described as a technical standards setting body that does not make
policy decisions.  As such, both reports acknowledge the need for ICANN to
adequately provide for representation of the public interest if it is to be
a legitimate entity deserving of compliance with its decisions, and able to
substitute for governmental decision-making.

The Markle Foundation has been supporting the development of a variety of
ideas and views to stimulate public debate on how to provide for adequate
representation of the public interest of Internet users worldwide within
ICANN, particularly those who do not have a commercial interest in the
Internet.

We welcome issuance of these reports as contributing to the continuing
debate about these issues.  The Markle Foundation does not itself take a
position on the proposals, but believes that these proposals and others have
to be evaluated by the following criteria:

1.  Does the proposal reduce the representation of Internet users at large
on the ICANN board (thus any reduction in seats representing Internet users
would be troubling, and the demographics of domain name holders must be
examined if they select users' representatives since available Verisign data
indicates that 80% of domain name holders are companies, and in addition
that developing countries will be underrepresented);

2.  Does the proposal provide for representation of the broad and sometimes
conflicting public interests implicated by ICANN decisions in addition to
commercial interests (as two examples, the necessary degree of competition
to protect the public interest and how to best achieve it, or the
appropriate resolution of intellectual property disputes);

3.   Does the proposal provide adequate transparency and participation by
Internet users in the daily processes of the organization (in a practical
manner consistent with the purposes of the organization), and make some
effort to equalize resources available for participation, to avoid capture
by commercial or regional interests.

The Markle Foundation was the principal funder of the NAIS study, and of the
first ICANN election of At Large Directors.  We encourage experimentation
with new models of international policy making for the Internet such as
ICANN.   The Markle Foundation therefore supports efforts to consider how to
achieve the critical representation of the public interest in these bodies.

About the Markle Foundation

The Markle Foundation works to realize the potential of emerging
communications media and information technology to improve people's lives.
The foundation's work focuses on three primary areas: Policy for a Networked
Society, Interactive Media for Children, and Information Technologies for
Better Health. Many of the Policy for a Networked Society activities help to
build the capacity to include the public voice in the governance of the
Internet.
Markle pursues its goals through a range of activities including analysis,
research, public information and the development of innovative media
products and services. The Foundation creates and operates many of its own
projects, using not only grants but also investments and strategic alliances
with non-profits and businesses.
(See http://www.markle.org for more information.)

Contacts

For more information please contact Todd McGovern at 212 489 66 55