[ALSC-Forum] The At Large Seats Should Not Be Eliminated

[Bret A. Fausett]

Esther Dyson wrote:
> I'm sorry, but I don't think there should be forbidden questions.  Our job
> is to consider the arguments, and the justifications.

Then take the rationale behind my comment as an answer to your question.
Here's a draft answer to the question raised in the Committee's May minutes.

  "Should At-Large Director seats be eliminated and individual
   involvement and representation addressed through the existing
   ICANN structure?"

No. The seats should not be eliminated. The representational structure of
ICANN that existed at the time it was initially recognized by the U.S.
Department of Commence called for an 18 member Board, with nine Directors
elected by the Supporting Organizations and nine elected by the At Large
Internet community. To date, ICANN has elected only five Directors from the
At Large, and the model initially agreed among ICANN's founders, the
Department of Commerce, and members of the Internet community who
contributed to the organizational process has never been tried.

To eliminate some or all of the At Large Director seats prior to the time
that all nine At Large Directors had been elected and seated would create a
deep and lasting distrust of the organization that it might never overcome.
Members of the Internet community might rightfully claim that the At Large
seats were eliminated because the Board had been captured by the Supporting
Organization interests who were elected first.

While it may be appropriate to reexamine the representational structure of
the ICANN Board in the future, the ALSC believes it would be highly
inappropriate to eliminate any At Large representation at this time -- when
the seats to be eliminated have not yet been filled with duly elected
representatives. In the Committee's opinion, ICANN's most valuable asset is
the trust that it establishes with the Internet community, trust that would
be undermined, perhaps forever, by breaking the initial promise made to the
community for a Board equally balanced between Supporting Organization
special interests and the more general interests of the worldwide Internet
community.

   ----

Feel free to cut and paste.

       -- Bret

--
Bret Fausett | fausett@lextext.com | http://www.lextext.com
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