Comments on: ICANN’s At-Large Process: Exit, Without Voice http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/05/21/icanns_at_large_process_exit_without_voice.html Musings of a techie lawyer Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:28:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-bleeding By: Wendy http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/05/21/icanns_at_large_process_exit_without_voice.html#comment-716 Wendy Wed, 23 May 2007 15:58:48 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-716 Thanks. I agree with you, Patrick, that the ALAC review comes none too soon because the current model is broken. Like you, I submitted comments on the Terms of Reference, asking the reviewers to take a broader view of the ALAC's role and whether current structures best serve to engage and provide voice for the at-large Internet-using public. I hope those comments are heard and the review takes a hard look at better alternatives. Thanks. I agree with you, Patrick, that the ALAC review comes none too soon because the current model is broken. Like you, I submitted comments on the Terms of Reference, asking the reviewers to take a broader view of the ALAC’s role and whether current structures best serve to engage and provide voice for the at-large Internet-using public.

I hope those comments are heard and the review takes a hard look at better alternatives.

]]> By: Thomas Roessler http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/05/21/icanns_at_large_process_exit_without_voice.html#comment-715 Thomas Roessler Mon, 21 May 2007 20:37:45 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-715 I should add to my previous comment that the way in which this process derailed despite some promising beginnings indeed suggests a systemic problem in ICANN, as an organization. I should add to my previous comment that the way in which this process derailed despite some promising beginnings indeed suggests a systemic problem in ICANN, as an organization.

]]> By: Thomas Roessler http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/05/21/icanns_at_large_process_exit_without_voice.html#comment-714 Thomas Roessler Mon, 21 May 2007 20:27:52 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-714 Patrick, I agree that we're talking of strange bedfellows here. Bringing these kinds of communities together takes skill and time, but it is ultimately possible -- and frankly, when we all met in Frankfurt last year, we were on the right track. The fact that a number of the European At-Large Structures felt that they were being rolled over by the process (and I gather from your comment that this feeling was present in both camps, *sigh*) to me demonstrates that some critical trust-building and community-building hadn't yet happened, and that consensus was proclaimed when there was insufficient buy-in. And that, in turn, is a mistake that I mostly blame on Nick, who took a chair-like role in this critical phase, while at the same time catering to ICANN's publicity needs. No real surprise in here, except, maybe, about the amount of personal bitterness that resulted. PS: Wendy, posting a comment from the preview form doesn't work. Patrick, I agree that we’re talking of strange bedfellows here. Bringing these kinds of communities together takes skill and time, but it is ultimately possible — and frankly, when we all met in Frankfurt last year, we were on the right track.

The fact that a number of the European At-Large Structures felt that they were being rolled over by the process (and I gather from your comment that this feeling was present in both camps, *sigh*) to me demonstrates that some critical trust-building and community-building hadn’t yet happened, and that consensus was proclaimed when there was insufficient buy-in.

And that, in turn, is a mistake that I mostly blame on Nick, who took a chair-like role in this critical phase, while at the same time catering to ICANN’s publicity needs.

No real surprise in here, except, maybe, about the amount of personal bitterness that resulted.

PS: Wendy, posting a comment from the preview form doesn’t work.

]]> By: Patrick Vande Walle http://wendy.seltzer.org/blog/archives/2007/05/21/icanns_at_large_process_exit_without_voice.html#comment-713 Patrick Vande Walle Mon, 21 May 2007 19:58:11 +0000 http://wendy.seltzer.org/wordpress/?p=413#comment-713 Wendy, I would like to point out the fact that the ICANN staff did an examplary job in trying to keep the process progressing, despite the perseverance of some to try to bend the rules to fit their own agenda. In my opinion, the RALO model is fundamentally flawed in that it tries to bring together organizations with very different cultures, priorities and agendas. Additionally, the regions model in ICANN is artificial, leading to a tendency to create sub-regions within the RALO. In the end, all these strange bedfellows cannot live together. How can we make this better ? I do not have clear proposals yet. But indeed, the theorical RALO model does not work, once it is facing the day-to-day reality. Some considered the ALAC review was coming too early, due to the fact that RALOs had just been established. The latest events prove that the review is most welcome now, if we want to change the model before it is too late. Wendy, I would like to point out the fact that the ICANN staff did an examplary job in trying to keep the process progressing, despite the perseverance of some to try to bend the rules to fit their own agenda.

In my opinion, the RALO model is fundamentally flawed in that it tries to bring together organizations with very different cultures, priorities and agendas.

Additionally, the regions model in ICANN is artificial, leading to a tendency to create sub-regions within the RALO.

In the end, all these strange bedfellows cannot live together. How can we make this better ? I do not have clear proposals yet. But indeed, the theorical RALO model does not work, once it is facing the day-to-day reality.

Some considered the ALAC review was coming too early, due to the fact that RALOs had just been established. The latest events prove that the review is most welcome now, if we want to change the model before it is too late.

]]>