Michael,

Thank you so much for this and for your excellent prototype e-mail. Although my experience suggests that calls do generate a bit greater impact, in situations like yours where you are so far away from home an e-mail like yours is a great idea. Thank you so much for doing this!

If you get a response, Michael, please be so kind as to share with us. I'm
personally unaware of any position Senator Paul has taken on the issue - let's hope your message can help make it a positive one!

Thanks again for your great work,

Ed



Sent from my iPhone

> On 9 Sep 2016, at 06:58, Michael Oghia <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> An update: I just sent to Rand Paul, a Republican senator from Kentucky (the state where I am registered to vote). I have more faith that he and his team will respond than Mitch McConnell, a senior Republican senator from Kentucky who is the Senate majority leader. I never bother messaging McConnell about anything that is remotely partisan because it is, frankly, futile.
> 
> Here is my letter in case someone wants to use it as a template and add/modify it:
> 
> Dear Dr. Paul,
> 
> Hello, my name is Michael Oghia. I am a U.S. citizen currently residing in Belgrade, Serbia, and I work as an independent consultant within the Internet governance community. I am a member of multiple constituencies of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), including the Non-Commercial Stakeholders Group (NCSG). As you know, the transition of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to the global multi-stakeholder community is supposed to occur on 30 September but is facing major opposition, often which is fueled by fear, misinformation, partisan politics, and a lack of understanding.
> 
> As a Kentucky citizen and member of the Internet governance community, I adamantly urge you to support the transition. As National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) chief Larry Stickler told Politico (based on previous testimony to Congress): "It's important for the future of the Internet that the transition not be blocked on Sept. 30 ... the delay would be 'giving a gift to Russia and China.' ... government had spent 'two years developing a plan,' and abandoning it would 'hurt the credibility of America in the eyes of the rest of the world.'"
> 
> Dr. Paul, please -- do not fall into the trap of useless, partisan politics on this issue. The IANA transition will increase the accountability of ICANN, better safeguard the domain name system (DNS) and wider Internet as a global resource, and enhance trust in U.S. leadership.
> 
> I was initially hesitant to send this email but then I considered how you have often defended Internet rights, and hope that my plea speaks to your integrity. If anything, I ask your team to contact me at any time if you would like to know more about the transition from a non-partisan, non-political perspective, and to research information about the transition from a variety of sources. Unlike some of the misinformation spreading across certain political channels, I can vouch for this plan. As someone working in the field, I work with and personally know many of the people who wrote the text of the transition. I absolutely guarantee that the transition is better for U.S. interests than not doing so.
> 
> Thank you for your service to the people of Kentucky. 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Michael J. Oghia
> Jackson, Breathitt County, Kentucky
> 
> iGmena communications manager
> 2016 ISOC IGF returning ambassador
> Independent #netgov consultant & editor
> 
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mikeoghia
> LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeoghia
> 
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 7:34 AM, Sonigitu Ekpe <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Good opinion.
>> 
>> How many shall be willing to do what you are suggesting, when it shall favour many Americans.
>> 
>> How do you shot yourself?
>> 
>> 
>> On 9 Sep 2016 6:24 a.m., "Michael Oghia" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Thank you for putting this information together and for this important call.
>> 
>> Best,
>> -Michael
>> __________________
>> 
>> Michael J. Oghia
>> iGmena communications manager
>> 2016 ISOC IGF returning ambassador
>> Independent #netgov consultant & editor
>> 
>> Belgrade, Serbia
>> Skype: mikeoghia
>> Twitter | LinkedIn
>> 
>>> On Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 3:19 AM, Edward Morris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>  
>>> Hello everybody,
>>> 
>>> My apology for my multiple efforts to get this to you. My spell check and font selector seem to have a mind of their own this morning. My sincere apologies. The message, however, remains the same and is important.
>>> 
>>> Next week is a crucial time in the life of the transition. The administration needs to notify Congress by September 15th of it's intention to proceed. Although a high priority issue for a few Congressmen in the so called House Freedom Caucus, the transition is something that has really flown under the radar for most Senators and Representatives.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> I'd like to tell everyone in the NCSG that the United States Congress cares about what you think. It does not. Individual Congresspersons, though, do care what their constituents think - that's where we need your help.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> 
>>> American members of the NCSG, both institutions and individuals, it's time to let your elected representatives know what you think of the transition. The best way to do this is to call Washington and tell your Senator, Representative or their staff person what you want them to do regarding the elimination of US government stewardship of the internet through the IANA contract.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> Please today please call your Senator or Representative,  or preferably both, today and tell them that:
>>>  
>>>  
>>> 1. You, or your organisation, are active members of the ICANN community representing noncommercial users,
>>>  
>>> 2. You support the transition of the internet from the US government to the multi-stakeholder community (if you do),
>>>  
>>> 3. (For Senators) You oppose S3034, the mis-named Protecting Internet Freedom Act, or
>>>  
>>> 4. (For Representatives) You oppose HR 5329, the Securing America's Internet Domains Act of 2016,
>>>  
>>>  
>>> You can reach your Senator or Representative through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
>>>  
>>>  
>>> If you do not know your representative you can obtain his or her identity here: 
>>> http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
>>> Expat Americans should contact the Senator and Representative of the district where you currently cast your remote  ballot in elections (or where you last resided, if you do not currently vote in the United States).
>>> 
>>>  
>>> In addition, please call the Secretary of the Department of Commerce Penny Pritzker at 202-482-2112 and:
>>> 
>>> 1. Identify yourself, your affiliation and that you are an active member of the ICANN community representing noncommercial users and that
>>> 
>>> 2. you support the transition (if you do)  and expect the Department of Commerce  to proceed as scheduled at the end of this month and not extend the current IANA contract or propose a new one.
>>> 
>>>  
>>> The time to talk is over: Americans. If you want he transition to occur the time to act is today. Not Monday, today. The way to act is by calling, not writing. The impact is much greater.
>>>  
>>> Thank yu for your consideration.
>>>  
>>> Best,
>>>  
>>> Ed Morris
>