<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">I really like the APC release. Rather than recreating the wheel, I suggest we pull out the portions best suited to a broad CS statement, worded in the style folks are most comfortable with, and seek quick signatories. It would be great to get something to the outside world Monday (or soon thereafter)<br><div><div>On Mar 15, 2014, at 2:04 PM, Anriette Esterhuysen <<a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">
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<font face="Arial">Hi all<br>
<br>
Here is the press release APC put out earlier today. What are the
plans for a reaction from Best Bits? <br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.apc.org/en/node/19068">http://www.apc.org/en/node/19068</a><br>
<br>
Anriette<br>
<br>
</font><p><span class="locality">JOHANNESBURG</span>, Mar 15 (APCNews)</p><p><span class="caps">PRESS</span> <span class="caps">STATEMENT</span><br>
<span class="caps">FOR</span> <span class="caps">IMMEDIATE</span>
<span class="caps">RELEASE</span></p><p><strong><span class="caps">APC</span> welcomes <span class="caps">NTIA</span> announcement on transition of key
internet domain name functions</strong></p><p>14 March 2014 – The Association for Progressive Communications (<span class="caps">APC</span>) welcomes the announcement made by the
United States Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications
and Information Administration (<span class="caps">NTIA</span>) of
its ‘intent to transition key internet domain name functions to
the <a href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/press-release/2014/ntia-announces-intent-transition-key-internet-domain-name-functions">global
multi-stakeholder community</a>.'</p><p>NTIA’s responsibility under current agreements means it has
served as the “historic steward” of the <span class="caps">DNS</span>
(internet domain name system). The fact that a single government
currently plays this role, even if it has not been a particularly
“hands-on” role, has been cause for concern and debate among
governments and other stakeholders for more than a decade. </p><p>We commend the <span class="caps">NTIA</span> for committing to
the transition to a multi-stakeholder process that needs full
involvement of civil society, governments, business and the
internet technical community (to mention just some of the current
stakeholders affected by internet decision making) and for
requiring that the resulting transition plan maintains the
openness of the internet.</p><p>“This is however not trivial, as mechanisms for ensuring really
effective and inclusive participation of all stakeholders on equal
footing in internet policy making, particularly those that
currently lack power and influence, are still evolving. A further
challenge lies in how to protect the broadest possible public
interest in decisions about <span class="caps">DNS</span> and
internet root zone management,” said <span class="caps">APC</span>
Executive Director Anriette Esterhuysen. “Nevertheless, this is a
very constructive step, definitely in the right direction, and a
unique opportunity to make progress in the evolution of the
internet governance ecosystem. This is particularly important for
stakeholders from developing countries,” she added. </p><p>We recommend that <span class="caps">ICANN</span> (the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), to which the <span class="caps">NTIA</span> is entrusting the development of the
transition plan, look beyond its own internal multi-stakeholder
processes in bringing together the larger community for the
necessary consultations on how this transition should be
undertaken. We also recommend that <span class="caps">ICANN</span>
consider the submissions about how this transition can take place
that were made to the upcoming NetMundial: Global Meeting on the
Future of Internet Governance ‒ <a href="http://www.netmundial.br/" title="www.netmundial.br">www.netmundial.br</a>
‒ to be held in Brazil in late April 2014. </p><p><a href="http://www.apc.org/en/node/19043/"><span class="caps">APC</span>’s
proposals can be read here</a></p><p>About <span class="caps">APC</span><br>
The Association for Progressive Communications (<span class="caps">APC</span>)
is an international network and non-profit organisation founded in
1990 that wants everyone to have access to a free and open
internet to improve lives and create a more just world. Since its
formation in 1990 the <span class="caps">APC</span> network and
its members have been committed to achieving universal and
affordable access to a free and open internet.</p><p>Press contacts<br>
Anriette Esterhuysen, <span class="caps">APC</span> Executive
Director – <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a><br>
Valeria Betancourt, <span class="caps">APC</span> Policy Manager
– <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:valeriab@apc.org">valeriab@apc.org</a><br>
Avri Doria, <span class="caps">APC</span> affiliate –
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:avri@acm.org">avri@acm.org</a><br>
PO Box 29755<br>
Melville, GT 2109<br>
South Africa</p><p>(END/2014)</p>
<br>
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