Dr. Milton Mueller Syracuse University School of Information Studies http://www.digital-convergence.org http://www.internetgovernance.org >>> Erick Iriarte Ahon <[log in to unmask]> 1/27/2005 5:26:19 PM >>> >I don't understand this: "(...) local Internet communities should develop >autonomously from the bottom up. " > >Yes.. everybody knows that. But what mean in this context, that it's not >possible to accept help to develop internet communities different technical >issues?. Fair question. My thinking was to introduce an important distinction. The object of the funding should be to support the forums and workshops in developing countries, not to fund local internet communities as such. I don't want to see ICANN's management take responsibility for cultivating and developing local Internet communities. But I don't mind them running workshops if existing local communities apply for help. The difference may be subtle, but it's important. Yes, local internet communities will be helped if ICANN runs a workshop or event in their territory. So let them apply for that support. But we don't want, for example, ICANN mgmt deciding who the "real" Internet community is or favoring their friends over their critics. One can accept help from many different sources. We are talking about ICANN and ICANN only, not anyone else.