[governance] statement for ITU website

Mon Jan 30 10:06:08 EST 2006

Hi,

So far I have as signatories,

William Drake                        Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility/
                                                    Graduate Institute for International Studies 
Wolfgang Kleinwachter        University of Aarhus
McTim                                     Internet Infrastructure Consultant
Lee McKnight                        Syracuse University/Internet Governance Project
Parminder Jeet Singh            IT for Change
Jeanette Hofmann                 Social Science Research Center, Berlin
Avri Doria                             Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility/Consultant

Questions:

1.  Parminder thinks we should have some sort of WSIS-related identification.  I'm not much on a lead like 'we the people of WSIS-CS' or whatever since it implies a level of consultation and consensus that isn't there, but I suppose I could label it, Statement by Members of the WSIS-Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus.  Any problems with that?  Of course, I'd rather it was simply a statement of the caucus, full stop, can't imagine that many caucus members are opposed to asking for inclusion, and we've made caucus statements in the past with fewer ayes (an issue in itself, I suppose), but maybe that's pushing it a bit...Anyone have guidance/feelings about this either way?

2.  Avri suggested I frame this in terms of "civil society organizations and academics."  I view academia as part of CS by definition, but can do this for emphasis, in which case perhaps I should stick Dr. in front of the relevant names.  With ITU, where claims of 'expertise' are highly relevant to a claim to participation, this might be desirable.  Guidance/feelings...?

I guess I can send this later in the evening to give more time in case others want to sign on, I'll just email it directly to relevant staff to make sure it gets seen before the meeting.

Best,

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Parminder [mailto:parminder at itforchange.net]
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 3:25 PM
To: 'William Drake'; 'Governance'
Subject: RE: [governance] statement for ITU website

  Hi Bill

  Pl add IT for Change's endorsement to it. Thanks. 

  I still find it astonishing that ITU can get away with not incorporating open access principle which is clearly stated in POA, and more clearly so for the kind of work ITU does - technical IS related info.. 

  I am in the middle of something urgent, and not able to draft a separate 'open access' statement' - so well, some other time. Though I also see that there could be some lack of complete consensus on this issue in the CS - it is certainly is a complex issue..

  For me making such representations is important not only from a content point of view - which is of course more important - but as much from process point of view. We need to take opportunity at these times when the WSIS-CS mandate, structure and future is uncertain to asset ourselves as the 'WSIS CS' or something. We have gathered some political strength in our collective form, however rudimentary. It needs to be preserved - and it can only be preserved by pushing 'content' or substantive actions like this one..

  That was the reason I had used the rather artificial sounding opening for the statement I drafted - 'We, the CS that associated with the WSIS'. See if some acceptable version of such assertion can be used.. It will be politically significant... though we need to figure out how much active the WSIS CS is at present.. More on that later..

  Thanks for the effort.

  Best regards

  Parminder 

  ________________________________________________

  Parminder Jeet Singh

  IT for Change

  Bridging Development Realities and Technological Possibilities 

  91-80-26654134

  www.ITforChange.net 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org [mailto:governance-bounces at lists.cpsr.org] On Behalf Of William Drake
  Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 3:05 PM
  To: Governance
  Subject: [governance] statement for ITU website

  Good morning,

  Since there was no consensus on making a joint caucus or other CS statement on the website for the ITU's Wednesday reform meeting, I decided I might as well type up something short to submit on a personal basis.  If anyone would like to sign on you're more than welcome; either way, I will submit this by close of business today, Geneva time.  I don't know that we'd have time to do any text tweaking, but if that might make this more attractive to potential signatories, let's communicate.  I see that Parminder made a nice submission on the cost of ITU documentation and its nonconformity with the access to knowledge and information principle enunciated in the WSIS Plan of Action.  The below text is on a different point and is complementary.

  -------

  The WSIS Principles state that Internet governance should be multilateral, transparent and democratic, with the full involvement of governments, the private sector, civil society and international organizations.  The ITU clearly does not meet the last criteria.  For the overwhelming majority of civil society organizations, the barriers to becoming a sector member or even an associate are simply too high.  In parallel, there are no options for participating on a more flexible, ad hoc basis in special workshops and seminars, or in the assemblies and conferences.  In consequence, and unlike other UN agencies, true NGOs (as opposed to hybrid business/user/technical organizations) are almost entirely absent and alienated from the ITU.   That this is not in the ITU's own interest was amply demonstrated by the WSIS process, in which civil society strongly opposed the ITU playing an expanded, leading role in Internet governance.  

  With WSIS follow-up and implementation efforts forthcoming, now would be a particularly appropriate time to make opening up to civil society a central element of ITU reform.  Doing so would not in any way disrupt the work of the Union, and the administrative cost would be negligible (we can print our own documents, etc).  The ITU would not face a stampede of hundreds of organizations seeking to participate in ongoing study group work on frequency propagation, signaling requirements and protocols, and other technical matters.  A much more likely scenario would be that a manageable number of NGOs would seek to participate in some of the above-mentioned workshops, seminars, assemblies and conferences.  Civil society experts contributed significantly to the success of the February 2004 ITU workshop on Internet governance, and there is every reason to believe that same constructive engagement would ensue in other forums.  Allowing civil society participation in events like the March 2006 meeting on NGN policies would be a good first step, and would not require changes to the Constitution and Convention.  WSIS and/or ECOSOC accreditation would seem sufficient for this purpose.

  It is unfortunate that the ITU's February 1 reform meeting is closed to civil society participation.  Our exclusion from this and similar events has been debated extensively on civil society Internet listservs in the course of the WSIS process and afterwards.  There was little enthusiasm for the website's cheery invitation to "be part of it" by submitting statements in this "open forum" for a meeting from which we are barred.  If however the ITU were to initiate a genuine, open and inclusive dialogue on the matter, the response would be rather different.  

  ---------

  Best,

  Bill

  *******************************************************
  William J. Drake  drake at hei.unige.ch

  Director, Project on the Information

    Revolution and Global Governance

    Graduate Institute for International Studies

    Geneva, Switzerland 
  President, Computer Professionals for 
     Social Responsibility
  http://www.cpsr.org/board/drake 
  *******************************************************

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