Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Fri, 28 Jan 2005 00:53:09 -0500 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Quoting Milton Mueller <[log in to unmask]>:
I like it. In response to Erick's point, I would rephrase a bit as follows.
> Harold, Hakikur and Eung Hwi
>
> Your comments were great, how about something like this as an agreed
> position:
>
> Regarding the "Restricted Fund for Developing Country Internet
> Communities."
>
> We support the concept but would prefer to see it re-labelled a
> "Restricted Fund for Technical Forums in Developing Countries."
> Encouraging and facilitating knowledge-sharing on technical matters
> related to DNS and IP protocols falls within ICANN's general purview and
> fosters coordination rather than top-down management.
In this context, ICANN should explicitly recognize it's role as a facilitator
to local communities. The constituency stresses that it is neither ICANN's
role to create communities where none exist, nor to seek to "guide" communities
on a particular path. The genius of the Internet has been its ability to allow
self-organizing communities to engage involuntary cooperation. This ensures a
continuing wellspring of new ideas and innovations. If ICANN were to go beyond
its role as a facilitator and coordinator by attempting to "jump start" a
local community or "correct" a local communities "mistakes," such actions --
however well intentioned -- would be antithetical to the traditions of the
Internet community and to ICANN's guiding principles.
We therefore encourage ICANN to define clear and
> transparent procedures for organizations to apply for these funds and to
> avoid making grants at the discretion of central staff. ICANN should
> have objective, neutral and participatory mechanisms to determine who
> gets these funds. Any evaluation committee should include
> representatives from each of the Supporting Organizations.
>
>
> --MM
>
--
Harold Feld
Associate Director
Media Access Project
|
|
|