The quote below (emphasis added) is from an article headlined "Trapped 
in the Web" appearing in the November 15^th issue of the Indian express 
and written by Arun Mohan Sukumar, senior fellow, Centre for 
Communication Governance, National Law University, Delhi. 
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/trapped-in-the-web/

The article is about India's "Document 98" proposal at the ITU meetings 
earlier this month. Given the unfortunately almost automatic reaction 
against India's proposals around Internet governance, it is worth paying 
closer attention to India's proposals around the governance discussion 
process itself. Sukumar writes:

/It is imperative that the three nodal entities responsible for the 
articulation of internet policies - the ministry of external affairs, 
the Department of Telecom and the Department of Electronics and 
Information Technology - evolve a policy framework for discussions. It 
should outline at least four important concerns: *the selection criteria 
for civil society interlocutors; *the terms of reference of 
consultation;*the role of non-governmental representatives in official 
Indian delegations abroad*, if any; and finally, the publication of 
minutes of consultations. The Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, 
which has been meeting for two decades, could offer a good parallel, at 
least in terms of structure./

The issues of selection criteria and roles are a non-commercial 
stakeholder civil society concerns that will manifest themselves across 
governments. This might be an opportunity to open up and reflect on how, 
and according to what core values, civil society is now, and should be 
represented in the processes of the articulation of internet policies. 
At the level of civil society/government relations probably the least 
good strategy is to simply assert that the Internet needs to stay "free 
and open" without a dialogue around the practical meaning of those 
terms, a dialogue that includes governments as significant stakeholders. 
The need for a policy framework for these specific discussions goes far 
beyond India.

Sam L. (NPOC Policy Committee Chair)