[governance] Internet - whether to regulate it or not

[Barry Shein]

The truth lies somewhere in between.


On September 29, 2014 at 06:50 suresh at hserus.net (Suresh Ramasubramanian) wrote:
 > When you're funded and represent yourself as an independent or as a rep of a civil society group, you do have to draw a "chinese wall" at least, between your funding sources and your opinions.
 > 
 > Or if you're there to represent the org that funds you, you need to say so. I hardly ever see employees of registries or registrars claiming that they don't represent and speak for their employers. 
 > 
 > I know several independents who have corporate or industry group funding but still do retain their independence.  Parminder appears to be implying that there's no such thing and everybody (except him and a chosen few) are paid stooges of various unnamed corporations. 
 > 
 > --srs (iPad)
 > 
 > > On 29-Sep-2014, at 00:00, Barry Shein <bzs at world.std.com> wrote:
 > > 
 > > 
 > > If we just equate funding with funding then, sure, one can make the
 > > argument that with few exceptions people are funded to participate by
 > > some method, often other than their own pocket.
 > > 
 > > I don't know IGF, never been to a meeting. Been to quite a few ICANN
 > > meetings however. I think it's safe to say many on this list know me,
 > > in some cases quite well and for many years, decades even.
 > > 
 > > My take is that this is a misleading equation.
 > > 
 > > By and large ICANN meetings (and processes) are heavily dominated by
 > > people representing organizations (companies) with a vested interest
 > > in the outcome.
 > > 
 > > Specifically registries, registrars, and people who make their living
 > > from the same such as the various lawyers and consultants.
 > > 
 > > To my observation I don't see how you avoid this in a so-called
 > > multi-stakeholder model. ICANN certainly hasn't, quite the opposite.
 > > 
 > > Almost the entire working agenda seems to be dominated by
 > > registry/registrar issues. To the point that even sessions etc which
 > > might on first glance appear to be focused on other issues in fact are
 > > dominated by registry/registrar issues.
 > > 
 > > For example as an ISP I would drop in on the single ISP session to
 > > find they are primarily (that's a nice way of saying "only") talking
 > > about issues such as website take-downs for trademark/copyright
 > > violations. That does affect them but for example what about the
 > > IPv4/IPv6 transition?  Or network neutrality? Or policy issues
 > > relating to CGN? Security and integrity issues? I don't think I've
 > > ever seen more than a momentary nod to any of those topics. One
 > > meeting in Brussels was completely taken up by how to fill in the new
 > > travel expense forms, or at least I left after 45 minutes of the hour
 > > devoted to that topic since I don't get travel expenses.
 > > 
 > > Yes there are a few activities which are exceptions and no doubt in a
 > > defensive context they would be marched out much like the tardy
 > > drunken husband showing he did in fact pick up milk & eggs as
 > > promised.
 > > 
 > > I really don't get this "multi-stakeholder" model and don't see how it
 > > can lead to anything but what I describe.
 > > 
 > > I'm sure this won't make me popular in some circles but at some point
 > > someone has to ask whether they are hallucinating or is the emperor in
 > > fact naked?
 > > 
 > > 
 > > -- 
 > >        -Barry Shein
 > > 
 > > The World              | bzs at TheWorld.com           | http://www.TheWorld.com
 > > Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: 800-THE-WRLD        | Dial-Up: US, PR, Canada
 > > Software Tool & Die    | Public Access Internet     | SINCE 1989     *oo*
 > > 
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-- 
        -Barry Shein

The World              | bzs at TheWorld.com           | http://www.TheWorld.com
Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: 800-THE-WRLD        | Dial-Up: US, PR, Canada
Software Tool & Die    | Public Access Internet     | SINCE 1989     *oo*

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