Question: What in your opinion is the role of ICANN @large members?

Nominee Replies

Harris Miller - posted on 2000-10-08 09:07:56 To represent the broad interests of Netizens. Barbara Simons - posted on 2000-10-05 14:28:37 As of now, the only role seems to be to vote in the current election. If ICANN is to be democratized and if we are to prevent the Internet from being tamed and commercialized as radio was, then the role of the at large members needs to be considerably increased and strengthened. My fear is that just the opposite will happen. ICANN is planning to evaluate the election, and, as the Board has said, everything is on the table - including the ELIMINATION of future elections. This would have the effect of eliminating the at large membership as well. I have been arguing that it is better to work with ICANN to attempt to democratize it than it is to try, as some have advocated, to destroy ICANN. There are some really serious problems with ICANN, but I fear that the replacement (WIPO?) would be worse. However, if ICANN were to decide to eliminate the at large membership, I'd have to reconsider my decision. Lawrence Lessig - posted on 2000-10-04 03:22:38 Not large enough. Properly supported, they could become a more effective check on the actions of ICANN, and a source of meaningful input into ICANN decisions. Emerson Tiller, J.D., Ph.D. - posted on 2000-10-03 21:38:45 The at large members have two roles. First, they should participate in bottom up decision making by suggesting policy improvements (through petition) and having votes on major policy proposals (even if they are not necessarily binding on every issue -- at least board would know the membership position). Second, the at large members must act as a check on the other interests that are already represented in ICANN's structure (big business, intellectual property, and technologists). All of these players have a role, but it only works if there are checks and balances.