Thanks Mamadou, Ripe 69 is a good read! Here is a quick take on two issues: the IANA transition and ICANN's accountability (and transparency)

Background: The RIPE 69 meetings just concluded in London. The RIPE meeting are where [mainly] Internet Service Providers (ISPs), network operators and [also] other interested parties gather to discuss issues of interest to the Internet community. Report at:  https://centr.org/system/files/share/centr-report-ripe69-20141114_0.pdf

Comments:

Shortly after the NTIA IANA transition announcement there were two brief discussions about the timeline for the transition and the relationship between accountability and transparency in a transition multistakeholder model and accountability and transition in ICANN's multistakeholder model. Those suggesting that the time line was too short were sidetracked by accusations that they were anti-transition. The issue of a linkage between the two accountability and transparency issues was downplayed.

Now, half a year later, both time line and the accountability and transparency issues are resurfacing. The RIPE 69 Report out of London this month cites ARIN CEO John Curran as saying that all accountability issues of ICANN had to be solved before making the step, and the Report argues that this issue "certainly is the killer for a quick transition". This is contained in a section of the report discussing the issue of how to make ICANN more accountable and transparent, and discussed making ICANN more of a membership lead organization. The issue of a process for more ICANN accountability continues to be the elephant in the room, and current efforts to deal with that issue look overly constrained and circumscribed.

Sam Lanfranco,
Chair, NPOC Policy Committee