Dear All,

As you know, CGI.br works very hard at the Multistakeholder model. It brings together technologists, civil society, academia, government officials and private sector to evaluate and recommend Internet policy for the 200+ million people in Brazil. I have always looked to CGI.br as a model of the multistakeholder process, and deeply appreciate CGI.br for its many years of leadership and participation in NCUC and NCSG.

Brazil is, of course, in a time of change and transition. CBI.br is seeking support from our worldwide community for its great work and its Multistakeholder approach. Below please find the text of a letter of support.

If you would like to sign on (as an individual or organization), you can do so at:  http://bestbits.net/cgi-br/

Best regards, Kathy

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The Internet Steering Committe of Brazil, CGI.br, a multistakeholder commission, has a crucial mission in the development of the Internet in Brazil. In particular, CGI.br supervises the actions of NIC.br – a non-profit private civil society organizationm in charge of carrying out the management of all activities derived from policies defined by the Committee. Decree Number 4829, of September, 2003, describes attributions of CGI.br, which include:

• proposing policies and procedures regarding the regulation of Internet activities;
• recommending standards for technical and operational procedures for the Internet in Brazil;
• establishing strategic directives related to the use and development of the Internet in Brazil;
• promoting studies and technical standards for network and service security in the country;
• coordinating the allocation of Internet addresses (IPs) in Brazil and registration in the “.br” domain;
• collecting, organizing and disseminating information on Internet services, including indicators and statistics;
• be represented in national and international technical forums related to the Internet;
• to adopt administrative and operational procedures so that Internet governance in Brazil follows internationally accepted standards, enabling it to celebrate agreements and partnerships.

These activities, fully funded by private income derived from distribution of domain names and IP numbers, are essential for the operation and development of the Internet in Brazil. These attributions are being carried out in a multistakeholder approach, with participation of civil society, academia, technical community, private sector and government.

This pluralist feature has been the basis for the charter of principles which is at the origin of the Brazilian Civil Rights Framework for the Internet (“Marco Civil da Internet”). The success of this pluralist practice has turned CGI.br into a worldwide reference on Internet governance, considering that since its creation in 1995, and even in the preparation of the Decree of 2003, any change in its structure and operation has been preceded by broad consultations with society, including significant participation of civil society and academic organizations.

In order to protect the stability, security and quality of the work which has been and continues to be carried out and developed by the Committee, the undersigned organizations affirm the centrality of CGI.br to develop activities absolutely vital for the Internet of today and tomorrow in the country, stressing the importance of preserving the above attributions, as well as the pluralist, multissectorial nature of CGI.br.

[Organizational and individual signatories can be seen at the link above]