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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>With the ICANN having deemed
cities eligible to develop TLDs, and with cities such as Barcelona, Berlin,
New York, and Paris lining up for TLDs, it’s time to consider the place and
impact city-TLDs will have on Internet governance.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>My presumption in presenting the
following scenario is that cities will choose to put their TLDs to use for their
long term development: to benefit city organization and governance,
communities, neighborhoods, small businesses, residents, and their global
“findability,” all toward the creation of economically viable and livable
cities; and not merely treat their TLDs as monetization opportunities. Further,
that cities will see their TLDs as community / civic resources, as vital as air,
water, roads, and education systems are to their future. And we see the
formation of conservator or trustee systems to assure their wise management.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>That said, let me review our experience
developing a governance structure for the .nyc TLD, albeit a work in progress,
and then project where cities might fit within the broader governance of the
Net.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Creating a governance structure for a
city TLD is new territory and we’re still fashioning structures to facilitate
the TLD’s efficacy. Since creating Connecting.nyc Inc. as a not-for-profit in
2006 we’ve seen governance as the critical factor in determining the TLD’s
success: important both to the inclusion of a diversity of viewpoints in
planning and directing the TLD’s operation, and to receiving the approval and
cooperation of the city of New York whose support we deem
essential.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">To date we’ve recruited a great core for our board of
directors, established a Resident Advisory Network, and are in discussions
with city officials about adding several ex-officio seats. To gain a feel
for the city's concerns about the TLD’s governance, read the transcript (<A
href="http://www.openplans.org/projects/campaign-for.nyc/council-hearing-transcript">http://www.openplans.org/projects/campaign-for.nyc/council-hearing-transcript</A>)
</SPAN></FONT><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">of our October 17
hearing before the City Council, in particular our discussion with Council
Member DeBlasio about his desire to place a “short leash” on our operation.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>On our governance page (<A
href="http://www.openplans.org/projects/campaign-for.nyc/board-of-directors">http://www.openplans.org/projects/campaign-for.nyc/board-of-directors</A>)</FONT><FONT
size=3> we discuss our intention to create space on our board of directors for
public participation, with our Resident Advisory Network a first step in that
direction. It’s a different structure than the ICANN’s current stakeholder
model, destined to be local and more hands on.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>With city TLD governance structures of
this sort in place, we see city-TLDs, each with a governance model
reflective of the city it serves, providing a mechanism for broader public
participation within ICANN’s structure. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>It’s my expectation that, with their
growing share of the world’s population, now 50% heading toward 70% in 2030, the
Internet’s future governance form will reflect the participation of
city-TLDs. And a<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>s we create
participatory and effective governance structures for city-TLDs, they will
garner standing for a significant role in the Net’s governance.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT
size=3>Where are we today? </FONT></SPAN>In June 2008 the developers of
the Barcelona, Berlin, New York, and Paris TLDs met in Paris to discuss
cooperation between city-TLDs and participation in Internet governance
processes. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>Last week
a coalition of cities presented ICANN with a Notice of Intent to create a
constituency within the GNSO. This is an appropriate first step, and within this
newly developing sphere one begins to see an emergence of an engaged user
community that will strongly influence governance of the
Internet.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><FONT size=3>There’s lots more work to be done here,
and we would appreciate and benefit from the thoughts of those on this
list.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>