ICANN AT-LARGE MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENT
In this issue:
- AT-LARGE DELEGATES NEEDED FOR ICANN 2005 NOMINATING COMMITTEE – The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) is seeking recommendations/volunteers for delegates to ICANN's 2005 Nominating Committee (NomCom), which will select individuals to serve on ICANN's Board and in other leadership positions. At-Large delegates will fill five seats on the NomCom. NomCom information is posted at <http://www.icann.org/committees/nom-comm/>. For more information on At-Large delegate positions, or to receive a "statement of interest form" for potential At-Large delegates, send an email to <committee@alac.icann.org>. Statements of interest are requested by 31 December 2004.
- IMPROVING INTRODUCTION OF INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN NAMES (IDNs) – The ALAC will soon post for public comment a proposed statement on the introduction of IDNs. The statement, which will be available at <www.alac.icann.org>, will recommend the consideration of global IDN policies to ensure that the development and the deployment of IDNs in various top level domains takes into account the interests of individual Internet users. The ALAC proposes, as a top priority for global action, the prompt introduction of full and non-discriminating support for all scripts and languages in domain names, as well as in other elements of the Internet that are directly used by the final consumers. As always, comments for public posting are encouraged and should be emailed to <forum@alac.icann.org>
- IMPROVING ICANN AT-LARGE AND THE ALAC – The ALAC is undertaking a review of itself, and an assessment of its efforts to provide advice on activities of ICANN that relate to the interests of individual Internet users and help user groups throughout the world organize for structured involvement and informed participation in ICANN. Your input is encouraged as the ALAC evaluates its own performance, considers ways to improve and strengthen its activities, and defines the challenges that lay ahead for At-Large. The ALAC will post information on its review, and plans to provide a final report to the ICANN Board, the At-Large community, and the larger ICANN community. Information will be posted at <www.alac.icann.org>. Email comments for public posting to <forum@alac.icann.org> , or send private input to <committee@alac.icann.org>.
- AT-LARGE EVENTS SLATED FOR AFRICA, ASIA, LATIN AMERICA – ALAC members and At-Large community leaders invite you to meet them at, and participate in, events scheduled early next year to share information and expand user involvement in ICANN. In the Africa region, ALAC members Pierre Dandjinou, Clement Dzidonu, and Sunday Folayan will participate in a “Pre-Conference on Internet Governance” and At-Large Africa Users Meeting in Accra, Ghana, 28-29 January 2005. Tommy Matsumoto, Hong Xue and Izumi Aizu will participate in an AP At-Large meeting at “APRICOT 2005” (Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies) in Kyoto, Japan, 8-25 February 2005. ALAC members Erick Iriarte, Sebastian Ricciardi, and Tadao Takahashi will participate in a Latin America/Caribbean At-Large Conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina, during the first week of April, to be held in conjunction with ICANN’s regional meeting. In addition, the ALAC is co-sponsoring a soccer tournament during the Mar del Plata ICANN meetings and is seeking players and sponsors (more information is included below; send soccer inquiries to Erick Iriarte <faia@amauta.rcp.net.pe>). To meet-up with an ALAC member at the events, send an email to <committee@alac.icann.org>. See < http://www.alac.icann.org/calendar.htm> for more events and information.
- OMBUDSMAN APPOINTED, COMMENTS SOUGHT ON FRAMEWORK – On 24 November 2004, ICANN announced the appointment of Frank Fowlie as ICANN’s first Ombudsman. The function of the Ombudsman is to provide an independent internal evaluation of complaints by members of the ICANN community who believe that the ICANN staff, Board or an ICANN constituent body has treated them unfairly. The Ombudsman's first order of business is to develop, with community feedback, an operational framework and contact mechanisms. Your input is requested on the Ombudsman’s proposed framework, which addresses the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, how to post complaints, and how the Ombudsman will handle them, among other things. More information is posted at <http://www.icann.org/ombudsman/ombudsman-framework-03dec04.htm >. Email comments to <ombudsman-framework@icann.org> (comments will be publicly posted).
- AT-LARGE DELEGATES NEEDED FOR ICANN 2005 NOMINATING COMMITTEE – The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) is seeking recommendations/volunteers for delegates to ICANN's 2005 Nominating Committee (NomCom), which will select individuals to serve on ICANN's Board and in other leadership positions. At-Large delegates will fill five seats on the NomCom. NomCom information is posted at <http://www.icann.org/committees/nom-comm/>. For more information on At-Large delegate positions, or to receive a "statement of interest form" for potential At-Large delegates, send an email to <committee@alac.icann.org>. Statements of interest are requested by 31 December 2004.
Each year, the NomCom is responsible for selecting individuals to serve in key leadership positions within the ICANN structure. In 2005, the NomCom will fill positions on ICANN’s Board (2 seats), the GNSO Council (2 seats), the ALAC (3 seats – 1 each for the Asia/Australia/Pacific, Africa, and Latin America/Caribbean regions), and the ccNSO Council (1 seat).
With significantly more seats on the NomCom than any other constituency, At-Large will have five NomCom delegates, one from each geographic region (Africa, Asia/Australia/Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean Islands, and North America). The ALAC has asked the At-Large Structures in each region (and groups that have applied to be ALSs) to recommend an individual to serve on the NomCom from their region. After receiving recommendations and input, the ALAC will appoint At-Large delegates in January. - IMPROVING INTRODUCTION OF INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN NAMES (IDNs) – The ALAC will soon post for public comment a proposed statement on the introduction of IDNs. The statement, which will be available at <www.alac.icann.org>, will recommend the consideration of global IDN policies to ensure that the development and the deployment of IDNs in various top level domains takes into account the interests of individual Internet users. The ALAC proposes, as a top priority for global action, the prompt introduction of full and non-discriminating support for all scripts and languages in domain names, as well as in other elements of the Internet that are directly used by the final consumers. As always, comments for public posting are encouraged and should be emailed to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
Last year, the ICANN Board endorsed the IDN implementation approach set forth in the draft “Guidelines for the Implementation of Internationalized Domain Names” (posted at <http://www.icann.org/riodejaneiro/idn-topic.htm>) and authorized ICANN's President to implement the Guidelines by authorizing registration of IDNs in registries with agreements with ICANN. The Board also recommended the Guidelines to other registries, and encouraged broad participation by registries, language experts, and others in consultative, collaborative, community-based processes to study and develop appropriate language-specific IDN registration rules and policies.
The ALAC has followed IDN development and implementation activities and, to increase awareness and understanding of IDNs, has co-sponsored IDN Workshops at ICANN regional meetings in Kuala Lumpur and Cape Town (information on the workshops is posted at <http://www.icann.org/meetings/kualalumpur/idn-workshop-08jul04.htm> and <http://www.icann.org/meetings/capetown/idn-workshop-01dec04.htm>.)
The ALAC’s document represents a proposal by the At-Large Advisory Committee for the introduction of global IDN policies that support the interests of individual Internet users. The ALAC views IDNs not simply as a technical or business affair, but rather as a fundamental element of the respect for cultural diversity and the internationalization of the Internet. The ALAC submits that one of the most pressing issues that need to be addressed by the global Internet community is the introduction of full and non-discriminating support for all scripts and languages in domain names and other elements of the Internet that are directly used by the final consumers. The At-Large community is encouraged to review the ALAC’s proposed statement (coming soon) and share their views on the At-Large forum <http://forum.icann.org/alac-forum/>. - IMPROVING ICANN AT-LARGE AND THE ALAC – The ALAC is undertaking a review of itself, and an assessment of its efforts to provide advice on activities of ICANN that relate to the interests of individual Internet users and help user groups throughout the world organize for structured involvement and informed participation in ICANN. Your input is encouraged as the ALAC evaluates its own performance, considers ways to improve and strengthen its activities, and defines the challenges that lay ahead for At-Large. The ALAC will post information on its review, and plans to provide a final report to the ICANN Board, the At-Large community, and the larger ICANN community. Information will be posted at <www.alac.icann.org>. Email comments for public posting to <forum@alac.icann.org> , or send private input to <committee@alac.icann.org>.
- AT-LARGE EVENTS SLATED FOR AFRICA, ASIA, LATIN AMERICA – ALAC members and At-Large community leaders invite you to meet them at, and participate in, events scheduled early next year to share information and expand user involvement in ICANN. In the Africa region, ALAC members Pierre Dandjinou, Clement Dzidonu, and Sunday Folayan will participate in a “Pre-Conference on Internet Governance” and At-Large Africa Users Meeting in Accra, Ghana, 28-29 January 2005. Tommy Matsumoto, Hong Xue and Izumi Aizu will participate in an AP At-Large meeting at “APRICOT 2005” (Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies) in Kyoto, Japan, 8-25 February 2005. ALAC members Erick Iriarte, Sebastian Ricciardi, and Tadao Takahashi will participate in a Latin America/Caribbean At-Large Conference in Mar del Plata, Argentina, during the first week of April, to be held in conjunction with ICANN’s regional meeting. In addition, the ALAC is co-sponsoring a Soccer Tournament during the Mar del Plata ICANN meeting and is seeking players and sponsors (more information is included below; send soccer inquiries to Erick Iriarte <faia@amauta.rcp.net.pe>). To meet-up with an ALAC member at the events, send an email to < committee@alac.icann.org >. See < http://www.alac.icann.org/calendar.htm> for more events and information.
ICANN meeting participants will have a physical, as well as intellectual, reason to attend the regional meeting in Mar del Plata in April 2005. The ALAC is jointly hosting a Soccer Tournament, which encourages fun, informal interaction for all ICANN constituencies and stakeholders. The ALAC invites all interested groups to form teams and join the Soccer Tournament, which will be held during the ICANN meetings, 4-8 April. The teams will include 6 members and 4 substitutes, and can be formed by any entity or group of individuals involved in ICANN. To register, or if you are interested in being a Tournament sponsor, please send an email to: Erick Iriarte <faia@amauta.rcp.net.pe>. - OMBUDSMAN APPOINTED, COMMENTS SOUGHT ON FRAMEWORK – On 24 November 2004, ICANN announced the appointment of Frank Fowlie as ICANN’s first Ombudsman. The function of the Ombudsman is to provide an independent internal evaluation of complaints by members of the ICANN community who believe that the ICANN staff, Board or an ICANN constituent body has treated them unfairly. The Ombudsman's first order of business is to develop, with community feedback, an operational framework and contact mechanisms. Your input is requested on the Ombudsman’s proposed framework, which addresses the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, how to post complaints, and how the Ombudsman will handle them, among other things. More information is posted at <http://www.icann.org/ombudsman/ombudsman-framework-03dec04.htm >. Email comments to <ombudsman-framework@icann.org> (comments will be publicly posted).
The proposed framework states that the Ombudsman will receive and have jurisdiction over complaints concerning: decisions, actions, or inactions by one or more members of ICANN staff; and decisions, actions, or inactions by the Board of Directors which may be inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws. Regarding what the Ombudsman does *not* have jurisdiction over, the framework lists complaints concerning: internal administrative matters; personnel issues; issues relating to membership on the Board; nor issues relating to vendor/supplier relationships. The Ombudsman proposes to use standard dispute resolution techniques to “facilitate the fair, independent, impartial, and timely resolution of complaints made by persons (or on the Ombudsman's own initiative).” The proposed framework states that all matters brought before the Ombudsman will be treated as confidential, all complaints to the Ombudsman must be made in writing, and an interactive form will be provided on the ICANN website to facilitate the filing of complaints.
The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee