ICANN participation

Key Challenges and Opportunities for the Interim ALAC

ICANN will rely on the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and its supporting
infrastructure to involve and represent in ICANN a broad set of individual
user interests, thus helping to ensure that ICANN's policies reflect the
interests of a full range of stakeholders. The ALAC is responsible for
informing the individual Internet user community about ICANN's work and
opportunities for individual participation, and for conveying the views of a
diverse set of individual Internet users to ICANN's policy development
processes.

ALAC membership affords individuals an opportunity to work with leaders in
the Internet user community, and in industry, government and the public
interest sectors, to help assure effective technical management of the
Internet's domain name and address system. ALAC members over the next few
years will have the unprecedented opportunity and difficult assignment --
to help build the processes and structures needed for effective
participation in ICANN of the individual Internet user community.

On 31 October 2002, the ICANN Board adopted New Bylaws that establish the
ALAC as part of a framework for the representation and involvement of
individual Internet users that will be based on new or existing advocacy and
interest groups throughout the world (At-Large Structures) (Article XI,
Section 2(4) of the New Bylaws). At-Large Structures (either existing
organizations or newly formed for this purpose) will self-organize into five
Regional At-Large Organizations (one in each ICANN region Africa,
Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America). The
Regional At-Large Organizations will manage outreach and public involvement
and will be the main forum and coordination point in each region for public
input to ICANN. This local/regional infrastructure does not yet exist, and
the ALACs leadership and assistance is needed to help it form.

The New Bylaws call for the ALAC to eventually consist of ten members
selected by Regional At-Large Organizations, supplemented by five members
selected by ICANN's Nominating Committee. To allow the ALAC to begin
functioning immediately, a 10 member "Interim ALAC" was appointed by ICANNs
Board to lead the formation of the At-Large infrastructure (see
<http://alac.icann.org> for a list of
Interim ALAC members).

ALAC members responsibilities include:

a. Selecting delegates for the Nominating Committee, and At-Large
liaisons for the Board, the GNSO Council and other Committees and Task
Forces;

b. Working with members of various ICANN constituencies, and the
At-Large community, to advance the interests of individual Internet users --
this includes advocating for the opinions and needs of the individual Internet
user community during all stages of ICANN's policy making process;

c. Serving as an At-Large liaison to other elements of the ICANN
structure and building solid working relationships with them;

d. Helping to develop the ALACs advice on ICANNs activities -- this
includes a time commitment to listen to individual Internet users and their
organizations and to prepare and present documents and statements
representing their views;

e. Considering applications for "At-Large Structure" designation
and providing advice on the formation of At-Large Structures and Regional
At-Large Organizations;

f. Conducting outreach to the individual Internet user community
(especially to groups within their region) to encourage participation in
ICANN, to solicit input on key issues, and to foster the formation of
At-Large Structures and Regional At-Large Organizations;

ALAC Contact: <committee@alac.icann.org>

ALAC Website: <http://alac.icann.org>