Exactly, but as I said in my other mail also, this is largely unrelated to their IANA role but part of their broader engagement in Internet Governance policy.

-jg

From: NCSG-Discuss <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Michael Oghia <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Michael Oghia <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thursday 26 May 2016 at 10:12
To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: A reminder on IANA Strwardship

Hi Ayden,

You raise good points. At first thought, the simplest way to answer that is by stressing how the NTIA is still involved in the policy judgments via the GAC as well as by contributing to the PDP when appropriate even if it is not overseeing it. Simply by being present and actively following the proceedings may suffice as oversight. Yet another idea is that by constantly being present, even if NTIA officials are silent or in the background, it serves as a reminder to other governments or to the community at large -- a soft power of sorts.

Then again, I could be wrong. Thoughts?

Best,
-Michael
__________________

Michael J. Oghia
Istanbul, Turkey
Journalist & editor
2015 ISOC IGF Ambassador
Skype: mikeoghia

On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 12:06 PM, Ayden Férdeline <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Thanks for sharing this, James. 

I'm a little surprised that Strickling would note on the record, even if true, that “we don’t provide any oversight of the policy judgments that ICANN and the multistakeholder community make”. If I was on the Senate Committee, I might wonder just what the NTIA had been doing and why they were traveling around the world on the taxpayers' dime if they have no sway? 

That being said, Strickling did offer a brilliant and succinct explanation of why the transition not proceeding would harm Internet freedom. Good to be reminded of why the transition matters. 

Ayden


On Thu, May 26, 2016 8:23 AM, William Drake [log in to unmask] wrote:
A memorable performance

On May 26, 2016, at 09:05, James Gannon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Just came across this again this morning, a poignant reminder of why we are all here and what we have been working for over the past 2 years. And why we shouldn’t stumble at the finish line.
In defence of the IANA Stewardship Transition…

-James