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<FONT SIZE="5"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>Here is a new draft incorporating comments received (as best I can). As time is running out, I would suggest that comments suggest revised wording wherever possible.<BR>
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Also please note that we will not get consensus on either a specific oversight model or whether the JPA should be extended this week. We have to realise we have different opinions here and see how we can move forward to say something useful.<BR>
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We have a few days for comments – mid week we will need to present the final draft for a consensus call.<BR>
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Ian Peter <BR>
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The Internet Governance Caucus is a global coalition of civil society and non governmental organisations and individuals actively involved the UN’s Internet Governance Forum (IGF) process. Formed during the lead up to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), our mission is to provide a forum for discussion, advocacy, action, and for representation of civil society contributions in Internet governance processes. We have several hundred members, with a wide spread of geographic representation; more about our coalition can be found at www.igcaucus.org.<BR>
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In responding to your call for comments, we are mindful of the WSIS principles, which " recognize that Internet governance, carried out according to the Geneva principles, is an essential element for a people-centred, inclusive, development-oriented and non-discriminatory Information Society”. We also recognise the need for high levels of global co-operation from all stakeholder groups to ensure Internet stability and security. <BR>
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We are thankful for the opportunity to comment on the JPA with ICANN , and respectfully submit as follows.<BR>
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</SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>Your Question 1 (The DNS White Paper articulated four principles (i.e. stability; competition; private, bottom-up coordination; and representation) necessary for guiding the transition to private sector management of the DNS. Are these still the appropriate principles? If so, have these core principles been effectively integrated into ICANN's existing processes and structures?)</B></SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'> <BR>
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IGC believes these principles are important, and would like to see them embedded in the constitution of an independent ICANN. We would propose to replace "private sector management" with the multistakeholder principle which has evolved from the World Summit on the Information Society and the Internet Governance Forum process which the US Government has supported, and which is an important facet, we believe, of effective internet governance arrangements. We also speak more about principles in answer to your Q7 below.<BR>
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</SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>Your Question 2. (The goal of the JPA process has been to transition the coordination of DNS responsibilities, previously performed by the U.S. Government or on behalf of the U.S. Government, to the private sector so as to enable industry leadership and bottom-up policy making. Is this still the most appropriate model to increase competition and facilitate international participation in the coordination and management of the DNS, bearing in mind the need to maintain the security and stability of the DNS? If yes, are the processes and structures currently in place at ICANN sufficient to enable industry leadership and bottom-up policy making? If not, what is the most appropriate model, keeping in mind the need to ensure the stability and security of the Internet DNS?)<BR>
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</B></SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'>IGC notes that the Internet is still in the process of rapid evolution. This poses difficulties in determining any model as the appropriate one in the longer term, and indeed we think the imposition of a permanent model at this point of time would be counter productive. Rather, we think the establishment of firm principles to guide the evolution of a model is the appropriate way to proceed. This should explicitly recognize that ICANN is a global governance institution with regulatory authority over an industry (domain name registration) and over critical resources (IP addresses, root servers and addresses). The standards of due process, rights, and accountability that apply to ICANN must be developed with these facts in mind. <BR>
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</SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>Your question 6. (The JPA between the Department of Commerce and ICANN is an agreement by mutual consent to effectuate the transition of the technical coordination and management of the Internet DNS in a manner that ensures the continued stability and security of the Internet DNS. Has sufficient progress been achieved for the transition to take place by September 30, 2009? If not, what should be done? What criteria should be used to make that determination?)<BR>
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IGC members have differing opinions on this issue, but share a widespread concern that the continued existence of the JPA is actually a barrier to effective global co-operation in Internet governance. As such, it is seen as hindering the levels of global co-operation necessary to ensure the security and stability of the Internet. Global co-operation will be enhanced by a transition beyond the JPA to a situation where all stakeholders feel that they have equitable arrangements for participation. Therefore, all of us believe the JPA should be ended as soon as is practical.<BR>
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Some of us believe that time is now, and that the JPA is an ineffective mechanism to deal with the problems that must be resolved as ICANN develops. On the other hand, some of us believe that a short term extension of the JPA might be the most effective means to ensure that ICANN does take on board necessary changes. We believe that, if this extension is pursued, the JPA should in future be reviewed (and extended if necessary) annually.<BR>
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However, irrespective of whether the JPA continues or not, we believe that certain principles and actions outlined below under (7) need to be embedded in ICANN’s operation – either as conditions for immediate cessation or conditions to be met in a short term extension of the JPA.<BR>
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</SPAN><SPAN STYLE='font-size:13pt'><B>Your question 7. Given the upcoming expiration of the JPA, are there sufficient safeguards in place to ensure the continued security and stability of the Internet DNS, private sector leadership, and that all stakeholder interests are adequately taken into account? If yes, what are they? Are these safeguards mature and robust enough to ensure protection of stakeholder interests and the model itself in the future? If no, what additional safeguards should be put in place?<BR>
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Irrespective of whether the JPA continues or not, we believe that certain principles outlined below need to be embedded in ICANN’s operation.<BR>
We believe these should be covered by an undertaking by ICANN to perpetuate in its constitution, by laws, or some similar accountability mechanism, various principles which follow. <BR>
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The principles need to be embedded in such a way as to ensure they cannot easily be changed to exclude any stakeholder group. The principles which need to be permanently embedded are:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">bottom up co-ordination<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">balanced multi stakeholder representation, including civil society interests and Internet users<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">ensuring the stability of the Internet<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">transparency<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">appropriate accountability mechanisms<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">continuing evolution of an effective and appropriate governance model which is multilateral, multistakeholder, democratic, and transparent<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'><FONT FACE="Symbol">· </FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">decision making driven by the public interest<BR>
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We also believe that ICANN should<BR>
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1) implement its GNSO Improvements in a way that gives parity to commercial and non-commercial stakeholders in the GNSO, without any delays or conditions;<BR>
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2) implement an appeals mechanism that, unlike its current Independent Review Process, is binding on its Board<BR>
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3) formally recognize the internationally accepted principle of freedom of expression in its Mission and Articles, and establish a norm that its policies for administration of identifiers should not be used to violate those principles.<BR>
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