Discussion of ICANN strategic plan

[Harold Feld]

Quoting Milton Mueller <Mueller at SYR.EDU>:

I like it.  In response to Erick's point, I would rephrase a bit as follows.

> Harold, Hakikur and Eung Hwi
>
> Your comments were great, how about something like this as an agreed
> position:
>
> Regarding the "Restricted Fund for Developing Country Internet
> Communities."
>
> We support the concept but would prefer to see it re-labelled a
> "Restricted Fund for Technical Forums in Developing Countries."
> Encouraging and facilitating knowledge-sharing on technical matters
> related to DNS and IP protocols falls within ICANN's general purview and
> fosters coordination rather than top-down management.

In this context, ICANN should explicitly recognize it's role as a facilitator
to local communities.  The constituency stresses that it is neither ICANN's
role to create communities where none exist, nor to seek to "guide" communities
on a particular path.  The genius of the Internet has been its ability to allow
self-organizing communities to engage involuntary cooperation.  This ensures a
continuing wellspring of new ideas and innovations.  If ICANN were to go beyond
its role as a facilitator and coordinator by attempting to "jump  start" a
local community or "correct" a local communities "mistakes," such actions --
however well intentioned -- would be antithetical to the traditions of the
Internet community and to ICANN's guiding principles.

We therefore encourage ICANN to define clear and
> transparent procedures for organizations to apply for these funds and to
> avoid making grants at the discretion of central staff. ICANN should
> have objective, neutral and participatory mechanisms to determine who
> gets these funds. Any evaluation committee should include
> representatives from each of the Supporting Organizations.
>
>
> --MM
>

--
Harold Feld
Associate Director
Media Access Project