Note: This one owes much to support from Alexander via ICQ.
Harold Feld: Non-commercial presence in ICANN is shrinking. Only 5-6 of them in the room at any given time. Foundations which have funded travel to ICANN meetings in the past are no longer doing so. They think that it's not a reasonable investment. [audio gap] Deals are cut behind closed doors. Believe it's important for non-commercial voice to be heared within ICANN. Personally believes that they can and do have an impact in ICANN process. ... Not happy with direction of evolution and reform. Greatly concerned that input isn't heard and not given equal weight. Very few ressources to participate in face-to-face meeting. Consideration should be paid to comments submitted via e-mail. [audio gap] Wish to remind board of critical principles: 1. Individuals have important role to play. Need formal place within structure. 2. Top-down processes run risk of imposing unpracticable solutions. (?) Bottom-up processes critical. May be slower, but products more sustainable. 3. ICANN was intended as instrument for Internet coordination without direct governmental supervision. Concerns with blueprint: Currently only one individual representative among 19 members of nominating committee without At-Large and with GA as cross-constituency forum. Note, however, that there is $0.25 additional domain charge which is imposed on individuals. Users asked to provide funding, but denied representation promised in 1988, reaffirmed in Cairo compromise, recommended by ALSC. Board guiding policy-development bears danger that illusion of consensus is created; controversial policies may sneak in. Governments invited, individuals pushed out is wrong way. Commends blue-print in these elements: Recognize non-commercials and academics, and doesn't throw them together with individual interests. Glad not to have been forgotten, but concerned that voice is diluted within structure.
