Question: Currently, At Large Membership in ICANN is pitifully small yet the decisions taken by this grouping will have a profound impact on all Internet users. How do you propose to increase At Large Membership and general awareness? And how do you propose to fund Awareness programs?

Nominee Replies

Sureswaran Ramadass - posted on 2000-09-29 06:19:12 Membership will aytomatically increase if Internet users understand what ICANN is. ICANN should take on this promotional role properly and increase awareness. Most Internet users still have no idea what ICANN is. Lulin Gao - posted on 2000-09-28 02:14:39 I fully share with your proposition that At Large Membership be expanded and awareness be enhanced. For this purpose, if am elected, my proposal to ICANN is that they should set up a special working group whose primary function is to formulate special programs to increase the number of At Large Members and to enhance awareness of ICANN~{!/~}s role among the general public. As regards the funding sources, a foundation should be created with funds being donated from domain name registrars and Internet related businesses. Johannes Chiang - posted on 2000-09-27 10:04:04 Yes, At Large Membership in ICANN is currently small. But, it was more pitifully smaller before this election began. The outreach during this period can be considered as the evidence for that people become aware while they can joint the decision process. Of course, the decision process should be open and transparent. I believe the At Large membership will be in this way larger and larger. And, ICANN itself will become more transparent, effective and innovative. Enhancement of Awareness can begin with, 1. compiling the way of information. dissemination from pull mode to push mode 2. reporting the election process and the result in the public. 3. opening the availability of membership as soon as possible after this election. 4. disseminating and communicating with internet users locally in each counties and regions. I think there are really a lots to do for the awareness. Among others, most crucial issue here is the languages. We could make people aware, only when we let them understand us. I will suggest that the discussions in ICANN meetings should be translated into as many languages as we can. And, the dissemination and education should involve local interesting group or volunteers. Lastly, ICANN has to keep transparent and the bottom-up election process must be maintained.