ICANN participation

In this issue:

• REGISTRY SERVICES -- Input is needed on procedures for allowing changes in
  the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. How should ICANN handle
  Verisign's "Sitefinder" and similar registry changes? What is in the best
  interest of individual Internet users? <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>
• USER COMMUNITY & WSIS -- ALAC urges full particiation of the global user
  community in the United Nations' Internet discussions. A draft statement
  from the Committee encourages the UN to reverse its practice of excluding
  users. What do you think? <www.alac.icann.org/wsis/>
• AT-LARGE STRUCTURES -- The first set of At-Large Structures have been
  certified by the ALAC to advance individual user community's informed,
  structured participation in ICANN. More are pending. Join a group or form
  a new one <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>
• ICANN ROME MEETING -- ICANN's meeting in Rome (2-6 March) will feature
  multiple At-Large events and policy discussions on Whois and Registry
  Services. All are welcome <www.icann.org/meetings/rome/>

• REGISTRY SERVICES -- Input is needed on procedures for allowing changes in
  the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. How should ICANN handle
  Verisign's "Sitefinder" and similar registry changes? What is in the best
  interest of individual Internet users? <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>

  The ALAC is participating (and representing individual Internet users) in
  the GNSO Task Force on Registry Services, which is creating a proposed
  policy for the process by which ICANN considers requests to allow changes in
  the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. This policy development
  process was launched as part of ICANN's further evaluation and study of the
  issues surrounding Verisign Registry's re-direction of queries for
  non-existant domain names ("Sitefinder").

  The ALAC recently submitted a statement to the task force and is
  encourageing comments on these remarks, or other statements/issues related
  to the task force's work. Background information can be found at
  <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>. To share your views, send an email to the
  At-Large public forum <forum@alac.icann.org>.

• USER COMMUNITY & WSIS -- ALAC urges full particiation of the global user
  community in the United Nations' Internet discussions. A draft statement
  from the Committee encourages the UN to reverse its practice of excluding
  users. What do you think? <www.alac.icann.org/wsis/>

  The ALAC recently released a draft statement regarding the United Nations'
  World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in which governments are
  attempting to address a broad range of international legal, regulatory,
  economic, and policy issues related to the Internet. The Committee urged
  that the technical management of the Internet remain, as much as possible,
  with the private sector and civil society (or providers and users of the
  specific services) and include governmental participation only as overseer
  and ultimate guarantor of the public interest. ALAC members volunteered to
  participate in upcoming WSIS working group activities to help ensure that
  the voices of the global user community are heard on Internet name and
  address resource management issues.

  Background information can be found at . To share
  your views on WSIS and related issues, send an email to the At-Large public
  forum <forum@alac.icann.org>.
  

• AT-LARGE STRUCTURES -- The first set of At-Large Structures have been
  certified by the ALAC to advance individual user community's informed,
  structured participation in ICANN. More are pending. Join a group or form
  a new one <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>

  The ALAC welcomes the following groups, which were certified as At-Large
  Structures, and looks forward to working with them to advance user community
  interests in ICANN:

  • Societa' Internet (Region: Europe)
  • Arab Knowledge Management Society (Region: Asia/Australia/Pacific)
  • Alfa-Redi (Region: Latin America/Caribbean Islands)
  • Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft e.V (Region: Europe)
  • Internet Society Luxembourg A.S.B.L. (Region: Europe)
  • Internet Society Bulgaria (Region: Europe)

  More applications are pending, see <www.alac.icann.org/applications/> for a
  complete list.

  Groups throughout the world (either existing organizations or newly formed
  for this purpose) that focus on participation by individual Internet users
  and deal with ICANN issues are encouraged to register and participate in
  ICANN by submitting a simple application form (available at
  <www.alac.icann.org/correspondence/structures-app.htm>). Groups that meet the minimum requirements will be certified as "At-Large Structures." For
  more information about At-Large Structure certification, send an email to
  <als@alac.icann.org>).

• ICANN ROME MEETING -- ICANN's meeting in Rome (2-6 March) will feature
  multiple At-Large events and policy discussions on Whois and Registry
  Services. All are welcome <www.icann.org/meetings/rome/>

  Information on the meeting venue, schedule, and other details, are (or soon
  will be) available at the above URL.

  The ALAC will be hosting the following events in Rome:

  • At-Large Meeting
  • At-Large Organizing Workshops (Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.)
  • WSIS Discussion

  The At-Large community is encouraged to participate in these events, as well
  as other activities, including policy discussions on Whois (domain name
  registration data base) and registry services. Check the ALAC website soon
  for more details (<http://www.atlarge.icann.org/>.

We look forward to working with you, and hearing from you.

~ The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee
alac@icann.org
http://www.atlarge.icann.org/

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