Application for "At-Large Structure" (ALS) Designation
Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft (FITUG) e.V.

Contact Information

1. Organization's Name: Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft (FITUG) e.V.
2. Organization's email address: info@xxxxxx
3. Organization's phone number (include country/city codes): +49-89-99 63 79 91
4. Organization's address (location and postal address, if different):
   FITUG e.V.
   c/o Prof. Jürgen Plate
   Fachhochschule, FB 04
   Dachauer Str. 98 b
   D-80335 M�nchen
   Germany
5. Organization's website (URL) (if available): http://www.fitug.de/
6. Organization's contact for ALS application (email, phone, address):
   Thomas Roessler <roessler@xxxxxx>
   Nordstraße 99
   D-53111 Bonn
   Germany
   +49-228-638007

Description

1. Is your organization constituted so that participation by individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the Geographic Region in which your organization is based will predominate in your organization's operation?
   Membership in FITUG is open for both individuals and organizations, without limitations regarding the geogrpahic region. Every member has a single vote in FITUG.
2. Describe your organization's constituents/membership (number, citizenship/location, defining characteristic - e.g. profession for professional societies):
   FITUG currently has 87 individual members and 3 organizational members. All individual members are citizens or residents of Europe.

   Individual members come from a broad range of constituencies, including network operators, academic teachers, software developers, journalists.

3. Explain the eligibility requirements (if any) for your organization's constituents/membership (if you provide a written application for admission as a member, you may attach a copy):
   There are no formal eligibility requirements. Membership applications have to be granted by the FITUG's executive board.
4. In what language/s does your organization conduct its business?
   Mostly German, occasionally English.
5. Provide support for the statement that your organization is self-supporting (by answering "yes" you confirm that it will not rely on ICANN for funding):
   Yes
6. Describe your organization's structure (e.g. governing and decision-making bodies and processes):
   FITUG is controlled by the General Assembly of its members. General Assemblies are held every two years. The General Assembly elects an Executive Board that legally represents FITUG, and manages the association's business.

   In addition to these formal mechanisms, any important decisions and activities are coordinated through a closed members' mailing list.

7. Does your organization commit to supporting its individual constituents'/membership's informed participation in ICANN?
   Yes.
8. Describe how your organization keeps its constituents/membership informed about, and enables them to participate in, decisions regarding issues of interest:
   As noted above, FITUG's members are continuously being informed about current developments through a closed "members" mailing list that is used to vet any decisions the organization makes.

   FITUG's principal means of keeping the public and members informed about current issues is its open "debate" mailing list. (In German.) That list has been a focal point for discussions within the German internet community since 1996. Archives are availabe at <http://www.fitug.de/debate/>.

   Second to that, there's a web site at <http://www.fitug.de/>.

9. Does your organization post on the Internet publicly-accessible, current information about your organization's goals, structure, description of constituent group(s)/membership, working mechanisms, leadership, and contact(s) (if this information currently is available, provide URLs)?
   <http://www.fitug.de/wuu/>
10. Provide information on your organization's leadership (leaders' names, positions, emails):
    Chair: Prof. Jürgen Plate <plate@xxxxxx>
    Treasurer: Alexander Weikert <daisy@xxxxxx>
    Secretary: Michael Brunnbauer <brunni@xxxxxx>

Objectives

1. What is your organization's primary goal or mission (please attach any mission or policy statement for your organization, if in writing, or provide a URL, if posted):
   Our standardized "about FITUG" statement:
   

   FITUG creates connections to the virtual world of new media and data networks. From our statues: "The association's purpose is the fostering of the integration of new media with society, public education about technologies, risks, and dangers of these media, and the fostering of human rights and consumer interests with respect to computer networks."

   FITUG is a member of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign.

2. What ICANN-related issues currently are of interest to your organization's constituents/membership:
   FITUG's members (and, more generally, participants) closely track and discuss current Internet developments, issues, and events as they evolve. This includes, but is in no way limited to domain name related issues as they affect (in particular individual) users.
3. If formed, will your organization commit to assisting the Regional At-Large Organization (RALO) for the region in which your organization is based in performing its function?
   Yes

Signature

Thomas Roessler <roessler@xxxxxx>