[bestbits] PK's comments on IANA transition

Fri Sep 11 16:14:27 EDT 2015

https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/blogs/iana-transition-proposals-major-steps-towards-success-but-still-room-for-improvement
IANA Transition Proposals: Major Steps Towards Success, but Still Room for
Improvement[image: img]

By Melanie Penagos <https://www.publicknowledge.org/author/melanie-penagos>
September 11, 2015
Internet Governance
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/tag/Internet+Governance>, NTIA
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/tag/NTIA>, ICANN
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/tag/ICANN>, IANA Transition
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/tag/IANA+Transition>
[image: img]

*This post discusses Public Knowledge’s comments regarding the **Proposal
to Transition the Stewardship of the IANA Functions*
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/public-knowledge-comments-on-the-iana-stewardship-transition>*
and
the**Enhancing ICANN Accountability 2nd Draft Report*
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/public-knowledge-comments-on-enhancing-icann-accountability>*.
The first proposal comment deadline was**September 8th*
<https://www.ianacg.org/calls-for-input/combined-proposal-public-comment-period/>*.
The second proposal comment deadline is **September 12th*
<https://www.icann.org/public-comments/ccwg-accountability-2015-08-03-en>*.*

This week marks the end of an important public comment period
<https://www.icann.org/stewardship-accountability-public-comment> regarding
the transfer of key Internet domain name functions from the purview of the
U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to
the global multistakeholder community.

Two draft proposals put forth for public comment represent months of hard
work on behalf of the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group
<https://www.ianacg.org/> (ICG) and the Cross Community Working Group on
Enhancing ICANN Accountability
<https://community.icann.org/display/acctcrosscomm/CCWG+on+Enhancing+ICANN+Accountability>
(CCWG-Accountability).
The proposals outline the procedural details of the IANA transition, and in
parallel, ensure that accountability mechanisms are set in place for the
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), before and
after the transfer occurs. This is essential in order to empower the
multistakeholder community, generate greater trust between the community
and ICANN, and to create checks and balances among relevant actors.

Public Knowledge strongly supports the efforts that have gone into the
development of both proposals and we commend the working groups for their
persistence and dedication to this process. While we believe that the draft
proposals represent a positive step towards achieving a successful
transition, we have some concerns regarding a few of the proposed elements
being introduced in this process.

*Proposal to Transition the Stewardship of the IANA Functions*

The P
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/proposal-to-transition-stewardship-of-iana-functions-from-ntia-to-global-multistakeholder-community>roposal
to Transition the Stewardship of the IANA Functions
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/proposal-to-transition-stewardship-of-iana-functions-from-ntia-to-global-multistakeholder-community>
represents
the consolidated version of three draft proposals from the names, numbers,
and protocol parameters communities. Our comments
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/public-knowledge-comments-on-the-iana-stewardship-transition>
focused
on the fulfillment of specific NTIA criteria for the transition, such as
the requirement to (1) maintain the openness of the Internet, (2) ensure
that the transition does not replace NTIA’s role with a government or
intergovernmental organization, and (3) support and enhance of the
multistakeholder model. We believe that this proposal makes many strides in
achieving this criteria and we are satisfied with its efforts to do so.

In regards to the Post-Transition IANA (PTI) - the newly proposed, separate
legal entity overseeing the IANA functions - we caution against the
potential of any one particular group to acquire an abundance of influence
in this model, specifically within the PTI Board. We believe that it is
essential for the PTI to remain as independent and accountable as possible,
and we stress the importance of making a clear link between the ICANN
accountability mechanisms and the ICG proposal.

*Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability 2nd Draft
Report*

The 2nd Draft Report on Enhancing ICANN Accountability
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/ccwg-accountability-2nd-draft-proposal-on-work-stream-1-recommendations>
focuses
on essential accountability mechanisms that need to be set in place before
the IANA transition can occur. These details have been enumerated and
developed under Work Stream 1
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/iana-transition>. Our comments
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/documents/public-knowledge-comments-on-enhancing-icann-accountability>
include
a call to carefully consider the voting allocations proposed within theSole
Member Model
<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDIQFjADahUKEwjXqI-Tqu3HAhVKoYAKHXehBwY&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.icann.org%2Fdownload%2Fattachments%2F52888421%2FSection%25205A%2520-%2520Community%2520Mechanism_21-07.pdf%3Fversion%3D1%26modificationDate%3D1437508164000%26api%3Dv2&usg=AFQjCNHcT64QP4Z_0okpyTI8IA5D2k5Ejw>
and
the need to give a greater voice to technical organizations responsible for
the security and stability of the Internet, rather than governmental
organizations. This would prevent a disproportionate balance of power and
would meet the NTIA’s requirement to avoid the replacement of their role by
a government or intergovernmental organization.

We also support the proposed community powers to remove individual ICANN
Board members and the option to recall the entire ICANN Board of Directors,
as an additional check on the Board. However, we’re concerned that the
minimum criteria to initiate these processes has not been adequately
identified. We encourage the intention to develop these standards under Work
Stream 2
<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCIQFjABahUKEwjBh9X6rO3HAhWF0h4KHZizCC4&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.icann.org%2Fdownload%2Fattachments%2F53783460%2FSection%25209_Work%2520Stream%25202_FINAL.pdf%3Fversion%3D2%26modificationDate%3D1438540962000%26api%3Dv2&usg=AFQjCNFk9IZaHp0pNNXvV9gyhVPp6ynQ1g>,
but believe that a basic outline of minimum standards should accompany this
proposal to set community and professional expectations at this time.
Finally, we support the inclusion of a commitment to human rights within
ICANN’s Bylaws and look forward to contributing
<https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=54693514> to its
further development under Work Stream 2
<https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCIQFjABahUKEwjBh9X6rO3HAhWF0h4KHZizCC4&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.icann.org%2Fdownload%2Fattachments%2F53783460%2FSection%25209_Work%2520Stream%25202_FINAL.pdf%3Fversion%3D2%26modificationDate%3D1438540962000%26api%3Dv2&usg=AFQjCNFk9IZaHp0pNNXvV9gyhVPp6ynQ1g>
.

*What’s Next*

As a next step
<https://www.icann.org/sites/default/files/assets/iana-stewardship-implementation-phases-19aug15-en.pdf>,
the goal of the respective working groups is to incorporate these comments
into the proposals and finalize them by mid-October, in time for the next ICANN
meeting in Dublin
<https://www.icann.org/news/blog/get-ready-for-icann-54-in-dublin>. Once
this is accomplished, it is expected that the final proposals will be sent
to the NTIA for their approval, via the ICANN board
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=174&v=e8DJScKQttg>, by late October or
early November (in line with the extended September 2016 deadline
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov/blog/2015/update-iana-transition> for the
transition).

*Image credit: Wikimedia Commons user Jamj2000
<http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logos_de_ICANN_e_IANA.png>*

-- 

*Carolina Rossini *
*Vice President, International Policy*
*Public Knowledge*
*http://www.publicknowledge.org/ <http://www.publicknowledge.org/>*
+ 1 6176979389 | skype: carolrossini | @carolinarossini
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