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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Am I the only one who reads the NTIA statement as trading off something which is not of core interest i.e. control over the DNS function (it can’t under any but the most extraordinary circumstances be used in any case), for something that seems t be of fundamental and core interest i.e. implanting Multi-stakeholderism at the very heart of the emerging mechanisms/institutions of global (Internet) Governance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>So the question is, why does the USG see (a still undefined) “multi-stakeholderism” as being so important?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>M<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>BD<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mar 15, 2014, at 7:15 PM, Gene Kimmelman <<a href="mailto:genekimmelman@gmail.com">genekimmelman@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>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)<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mar 15, 2014, at 2:04 PM, Anriette Esterhuysen <<a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>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 href="http://www.apc.org/en/node/19068">http://www.apc.org/en/node/19068</a><br><br>Anriette</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span class=locality>JOHANNESBURG</span>, Mar 15 (APCNews)<o:p></o:p></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><o:p></o:p></p><p><span class=caps><b>APC</b></span><strong> welcomes </strong><span class=caps><b>NTIA</b></span><strong> announcement on transition of key internet domain name functions</strong><o:p></o:p></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>.'<o:p></o:p></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. <o:p></o:p></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.<o:p></o:p></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. <o:p></o:p></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. <o:p></o:p></p><p><a href="http://www.apc.org/en/node/19043/"><span class=caps>APC</span>’s proposals can be read here</a><o:p></o:p></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.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Press contacts<br>Anriette Esterhuysen, <span class=caps>APC</span> Executive Director – <a href="mailto:anriette@apc.org">anriette@apc.org</a><br>Valeria Betancourt, <span class=caps>APC</span> Policy Manager – <a href="mailto:valeriab@apc.org">valeriab@apc.org</a><br>Avri Doria, <span class=caps>APC</span> affiliate – <a href="mailto:avri@acm.org">avri@acm.org</a><br>PO Box 29755<br>Melville, GT 2109<br>South Africa<o:p></o:p></p><p>(END/2014)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>____________________________________________________________<br>You received this message as a subscriber on the list:<br> <a href="mailto:bestbits@lists.bestbits.net">bestbits@lists.bestbits.net</a>.<br>To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:<br> <a href="http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits">http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>***********************************************<br>William J. Drake<br>International Fellow & Lecturer<br> Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ<br> University of Zurich, Switzerland<br>Chair, Noncommercial Users Constituency, <br> ICANN, <a href="http://www.ncuc.org">www.ncuc.org</a><br><a href="mailto:william.drake@uzh.ch">william.drake@uzh.ch</a> (direct), <a href="mailto:wjdrake@gmail.com">wjdrake@gmail.com</a> (lists),<br> <a href="http://www.williamdrake.org">www.williamdrake.org</a><br>*********************************************** <o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>