ICANN|ARCHIVES

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

Organized by ICANN's At-Large Advisory Committee, Business Constituency and Internet Service Providers Constituency

All individuals interested in the Internet and management and coordination of the domain name system (DNS) are encouraged to attend the "Workshop on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS): Issues of Relevance to ICANN and Next Steps" on Thursday, 4 March, 11:00 - 13:00, in the Goya Room at Melià Roma Aurelia Antica Hotel in Rome, Italy.

The workshop will provide information on the United Nation's World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and issues of direct impact to ICANN. Positions and actions taken at the Summit by various stakeholders on technical coordination and management of the domain name system (DNS) also will be presented. "WSIS" is a process in which governments are attempting to address a broad range of international legal, regulatory, economic, and policy issues related to the Internet. During this process, some governments proposed that an intergovernmental organization be responsible for "Internet governance," a phrase that remains undefined and some consider to include and/or mean the administration and coordination of the DNS.

The workshop is open to the public and co-sponsored by members of the ICANN community, including the At-Large Advisory Committee and Business Constituency, among others. Internet community leaders will brief participants on WSIS activities and discuss next steps, and a panel discussion will feature perspectives of a variety of Internet user and provider representatives. The workshop will:

1. Inform ICANN stakeholders and the broader community about activities, initial outcomes, and upcoming events related to WSIS and ICANN;
2. Foster a mutual understanding of positions of different stakeholders on WSIS as it relates to ICANN and other issues of interest; and
3. Enhance stakeholder participation in WSIS as it relates to ICANN's activities.

Agenda

11:00 Overview

Including WSIS history, events, status of deliberations, related UN activities, upcoming schedule, and deliverables, and ICANN actions. Topics and invited speakers include:

• David Fares, USCIB, and Izumi Aizu, Asia Network Research -- Introduction to WSIS history, events and upcoming schedule. Presentation (PDF)
• Paul Twomey, ICANN President and CEO
• Vint Cerf, ICANN Chairman of the Board
• Opening remarks by host country: Senator Fiorello Cortiana, Italian Parliament, Parliamentary representative at the WSIS

11:35 Panel Discussion of Stakeholders' Concerns/Activities

Featuring the perspectives and actions of key stakeholders in the WSIS process and their thoughts on, and plans for, upcoming WSIS events. The following individuals involved in ICANN constituencies, committees and other groups will provide brief overviews of relevant issues/actions:

• Vittorio Bertola, At-Large Advisory Committee
• Ayesha Hassan, International Chamber of Commerce
• Peter Dengate Thrush, InternetNZ
• Paul Kane, CENTR
• Milton Mueller, Non-Commercial User Constituency
• Elana Broitman, Register.com
• David Maher, gTLD Registries Constituency
• Tony Holmes, Internet Service and Connectivity Providers Constituency
• Steve Crocker, Security and Stability Advisory Committee
• Paul Wilson, Chair, Number Resource Organisation
• Charles Shaban, Intellectual Property Constituency
• Bill Manning, DNS Root Server Systems Advisory Committee
• Wolfgang Kleinwächter, Civil Society Caucus

12:15 Public Discussion/Audience Participation

12:45 Next steps key stakeholders can take regarding WSIS and ICANN, and how interested parties can become involved.

Moderated discussion with updates on business caucus actions, At-Large Advisory Committee actions, and actions of other key stakeholder efforts.

13:00 Close