RE: [ALSC-Forum] The Aspen Institute and Internet Governance

[Bruce Young]

This is a very well thought-out document that delineates the issues before
us without the typical hubris of proposing easy remedies.  There is a  key
phase in it as applies to this forum that's worth quoting.  In talking about
groups like ICANN, the IETF and the W3C, which they call "Alternative
Governance Organizations" or AGOs, the report states:

" . . . while decisions made by AGOs are typically "technical" (i.e. readily
understood only by those with specialized knowledge), they are also
political -- directly affecting the distribution of resources and creating
"winners" and "losers." Unlike many traditional entities that make political
decisions, however, AGOs are often neither representative of, nor
accountable to, the public. Though obstensibly "open" to participation by
all comers, they are characteristically populated and run by private-sector
representatives with relative expertise.  Similarly, though ostensibly
"global" in membership, they typically include few or no representatives
from the developing world in their leadership ranks, despite making
decisions that are often genuinely global in impact.  And though ostensibly
"transparent" in their decision processes, AGOs remain virtually invisible
to the public because their work receives so little attention from the
popular media."

This succintly captures the arguments made here in the past, and effectively
negates the argumrent that ICANN "just administeres the DNS system."  More
importantly, it underscores the importance of the user advocacy effort we
are trying to build.

Bruce Young
Portland, Oregon
Bruce@barelyadequate.info
http://www.barelyadequate.info


   -----Original Message-----
  From: owner-forum@www.atlargestudy.org
[mailto:owner-forum@www.atlargestudy.org]On Behalf Of Thomas Lowenhaupt
  Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2002 9:13 PM
  To: forum@atlargestudy.org
  Cc: firestone@aspeninstitute.org
  Subject: [ALSC-Forum] The Aspen Institute and Internet Governance


  After concern was raised about a February 20 Aspen Institute meeting in
D.C., I sent a "what's up" email to the Institute's Charlie Firestone. He
responded that they'd had an informal brainstorming session on
"reforming/restructuring ICANN" yesterday, and that a draft of "Rethinking
Boundaries in Cyberspace," a report to be released mid-March,  was available
at http://www.aspeninstitute.org/c&s/pdfs/rethinkcyberspace.pdf. Fact
comments are being accepted.

  Tom Lowenhaupt

  > Dear Mr. Lowenhaupt,
  >
  > We did host an informal brainstorming meeting yesterday, Feb. 20, at the
  > Aspen Institute offices in Washington, under the leadership and
moderation
  > of David Johnson, an adviser and consultant to the Communications and
  > Society Program.  He and a colleague are hoping to draft some options
for
  > reform/restructuring of ICANN.  Due to the informality and preliminary
  > nature of this meeting, designed to develop staff work and planning for
  > a potentially larger project, it was not on our formal Aspen Institute
  > calendar.
  > We're hopeful that a constructive set of options will result, and
advance
  > the ball
  > on this issue down the line.
  >
  > I do want to direct your attention, meanwhile, to an advance copy of a
  > report of a meeting of our Internet Policy Project held last summer in
  > Aspen.  The report, authored by Erez Kalir and Elliot Maxwell entitled
  > "Rethinking Boundaries in Cyberspace," will be released in print in
  > mid-March   We have posted the final draft at
  > <http://www.aspeninstitute.org/c&s/pdfs/rethinkcyberspace.pdf>
  > I appreciate your checking on the facts, and I particularly hope you and
  > your colleagues
  > find the work of Kalir and Maxwell helpful.
  >
  > Sincerely,
  >
  > Charles Firestone
  > Executive Director
  > Communications and Society Program
  >