Hi Robin and everyone,
I agree that this practice can raise exactly those issues of concern you pointed out (and for the reasons you highlighted). On the other hand, I imagine that proponents of the template would argue that the efficiency and global community input achievable potentially with this practice may outweigh any risks of manipulation by interested parties.
It may be useful to get more background regarding this practice, particularly given that many government and international consultations (e.g. on proposed legislative reform) tend to take the form of consultation papers that reflect a similar template, i.e. specific questions that are drafted and posed by the person/entity/department circulating the document, thereby enabling the management and circumscribing of full debates. Perhaps you, Carlos, Milton, Norbert or others who know more about the history and practices of ICANN input-seeking can chime in?
For instance, how has the process been managed in the past (e.g., were specific questions posed, who drafted them and did non-ICANN personnel and various constituencies have any drafting role)? Also, how were the comments collected and publicized (e.g., were they all made public in full, and was it possible to include additional comments outside the boundaries set by the questions)?
Cheers
Mary
Mary W S Wong
Professor of Law
Franklin Pierce Law Center
Two White Street
Concord, NH 03301
USA
Phone: 1-603-513-5143
>>> Robin Gross <
[log in to unmask]> 9/8/2008 9:35 AM >>>
ICANN is now sending out templates for constituency input. It used to be the case that a constituency could express its own concerns in its own constituency statement. But this new proposed format leaves significant opportunity to manage policy debate by asking some things, but not other things. And of course the way in which the questions are worded in the template can encourage a specific perspective that the constituency may not share. So this new template for constituency input is an example in which the GNSO can be more easily "managed" by ICANN and working group chairs...... concerning.
Best,
Robin
Begin forwarded message:
Date: September 5, 2008 2:26:24 AM PDT
Subject: [council] Constituency input sought on the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Set A PDP
Dear All,
Each constituency is invited to provide input to the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Set A PDP.
Please use the attached template, which can also be directly viewed on the Wiki, when providing constituency input.
The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Set A PDP workspace is at:
The deadline for submission of the constituency statements is 3 October 2008.
Constituency statements should be submitted to the working group list:
Marika Konings, Policy Director, is the ICANN staff person supporting the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy Set A PDP.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat