About Us
What are the roles and responsiblities of RALOs?
According to Section 5 of Aricle VI in ICANN's Bylaws, there shall be one RALO for each Geographic Region established.
Each RALO shall serve as the main forum and coordination point for public input to ICANN in its Geographic Region. It shall be a non-profit organization certified by ICANN according to criteria and standards established by the Board based on recommendations of the At-Large Advisory Committee.
An organization shall become the recognized RALO for its Geographic Region upon entering a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICANN. The MoU shall address the respective roles and responsibilities of ICANN and the RALO regarding:
- The process for selecting ALAC members
- Requirements of openness
- Participatory opportunities
- Rransparency
- Accountability
- Diversity in the RALO's structure and procedures
- Criteria and standards for the RALO's constituent At-Large Structures.
Each RALO shall be comprised of self-supporting At-Large Structures within its Geographic Region that have been certified to meet the requirements of the RALO's MoU with ICANN according to paragraph 4(i) of this Section. If so provided by its MoU with ICANN, a RALO may also include individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the RALO's Geographic Region.
RALOs play a key role in processing At-Large Structure applications:
- The criteria and standards for the certification of At-Large Structures within each Geographic Region shall be established by the Board based on recommendations from the ALAC and shall be stated in the Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the RALO for each Geographic Region.
- The criteria and standards for the certification of At-Large Structures shall be established in such a way that participation by individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the Geographic Region (as defined in Section 5 of Article VI) of the RALO will predominate in the operation of each At-Large Structure within the RALO, while not necessarily excluding additional participation, compatible with the interests of the individual Internet users within the region, by others.
- Each RALO's Memorandum of Understanding shall also include provisions designed to allow, to the greatest extent possible, every individual Internet user who is a citizen of a country within the RALO's Geographic Region to participate in at least one of the RALO's At-Large Structures.
- To the extent compatible with these objectives, the criteria and standards should also afford to each RALO the type of structure that best fits the customs and character of its Geographic Region.
- Once the criteria and standards have been established as provided in this Clause 1, the ALAC, with the advice and participation of the RALO where the applicant is based, shall be responsible for certifying organizations as meeting the criteria and standards for At-Large Structure accreditation.
- Decisions to certify or decertify an At-Large Structure shall be made as decided by the ALAC in its Rules of Procedure, save always that any changes made to the Rules of Procedure in respect of ALS applications shall be subject to review by the RALOs and by the ICANN Board.
- Decisions as to whether to accredit, not to accredit, or disaccredit an At-Large Structure shall be subject to review according to procedures established by the Board.
- On an ongoing basis, the ALAC may also give advice as to whether a prospective At-Large Structure meets the applicable criteria and standards.
RALOs work with the ALAC for coordinating the following activities:
- Making a selection by the At-Large Community to fill Seat 15 on the Board. Notification of the At-Large Community's selection shall be given by the ALAC Chair in writing to the ICANN Secretary, consistent with Article VI, Sections 8(4) and 12(1).
- Keeping the community of individual Internet users informed about the significant news from ICANN;
- Distributing (through posting or otherwise) an updated agenda, news about ICANN, and information about items in the ICANN policy-development process;
- Promoting outreach activities in the community of individual Internet users;
- Developing and maintaining on-going information and education programs, regarding ICANN and its work;
- Establishing an outreach strategy about ICANN issues in each RALO's Region;
- Participating in the ICANN policy development processes and providing input and advice that accurately reflects the views of individual Internet users;
- Making public, and analyzing, ICANN's proposed policies and its decisions and their (potential) regional impact and (potential) effect on individuals in the region;
- Offering Internet-based mechanisms that enable discussions among members of At-Large structures; and
- Establishing mechanisms and processes that enable two-way communication between members of At-Large Structures and those involved in ICANN decision-making, so interested individuals can share their views on pending ICANN issues.