Application For New GNSO Constituency in The NCSG -- PIA-CC

[Amr Elsadr]

I'm not sure I agree with labeling the CCAOI as a for-profit entity. As per their application documents, they describe themselves as:

"Though we, CCAOI, are an association, the approach followed by us is that of an NGO. Right from our membership to the services we provide, all are free of charge. In fact, we play a far more responsible role for building the cybercafé ecosystem and are also responsible for the users, majority of who fall in the age group of 15-35 years as well as the VAS providers. India has over 80 million internet (email) users today, out of which nearly 40% access internet through cybercafés. We also have a forum for the users and our ultimate objective is empowerment of the citizens through Digitization."

However, I am not very convinced with their application, particularly in Section 3.0: Uniqueness and Representational Focus. It seems to me that they should have sought membership in an already existing constituency within the NCSG rather than creating a new one. IMHO, wether or not they should even be granted membership is still debatable.

I am curious and would like to learn more about the nature of the relationship between the CCAOI and the Department of Information Technology of the Govt. of India, which is listed as one of its national affiliates on the CCAIO website. I'm not jumping to any conclusions, but it sounds very similar to the IT clubs in youth centers in Egypt in terms of services and objectives. The IT clubs are a government program funded and operated by the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology that take place at youth centers (amongst other facilities), which officially belong to an NGO, however are also more-or-less financially dependent on funding and oversight by the government. The NCSG charter frankly excludes governmental organizations and departments from being members, but perhaps does not address this sort of scenario as clearly as it should.

Thanks.

Amr

On Oct 11, 2012, at 7:23 AM, Marc Perkel wrote:

> I agree - Non-Commercial means non-commercial. So the for profit can go somewhere else.
> 
> On 10/10/2012 8:42 PM, Andrew A. Adams wrote:
>> ICANN's Silo model indeed produces a problem for this group. I think what
>> they really need to do is split themselves for the purposes of ICANN formal
>> structures into two groups: "non-profit Public Internet Access" and
>> "Cyber-cafes and other commercial shared computer access providers", apply
>> for NCSG/CSG group membership but agree amongst themselves that they will
>> coordinate strongly between them on promoting the clear common interests such
>> a group has.
>> 
>> I'm afraid I could not support the inclusion of for-profit access providers
>> in an NCSG constituency as it violates the non-commercial principle of SG
>> membership.
>> 

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