I think that this is a good statement - the procedures for transparent selectionof beneficiaries is really important. Valerie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Milton Mueller" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 3:55 PM Subject: Re: [NCUC-DISCUSS] Discussion of ICANN strategic plan > 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. We would encourage > ICANN to avoid taking responsibility for building "Internet communities" > in developing countries; local Internet communities should develop > autonomously from the bottom up. We 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 >