[ALSC-Forum] In the press - ICANN Stifling Public's Voice?

[Denise Michel]

Jim Wagner, internet.com,

There are numerous inaccuracies and misstatements in your October 26 article
"ICANN Stifling Public's Voice?"  Allow me to correct a few:

1.  The ALSC is attempting to identify At-Large recommendations that have
the potential for broad support.  In order for ICANN At-Large membership to
become a reality, people besides the 80 individuals who posted on the ALSC's
forum must support a plan that can be implemented.  While the views of the
forum participants and of the 30 people who voted in the "straw poll" about
the number of At-Large Board seats will absolutely be taken into account,
they do not represent "consensus" or "overwhelming evidence" on At-Large.
2.  The ALSC's draft report proposes to create a framework for informed
participation of *all interested individuals* (not just domain name holders)
in ICANN, focuses At-Large membership on an identifiable and vested
community to provide a reasonable mechanism for voter registration and
self-funding, and suggests a proportionate role for At-Large members in
selecting ICANN's Board.
3.  You did not "obtain a final draft proposal that will make its way to
ICANN directors next week."  The draft proposal has been posted on the
ALSC's website since August 27, and the final report has not been written
yet.
4.  The ALSC has not decided to "use the three seats taken from the at-large
membership and create another ICANN supporting organization..."  The
restructuring of ICANN and the creation of any "other supporting
organizations" is outside of the ALSC's purview and will not be addressed by
the Committee.
5.  (This bears repeating) Your statement that "The newly created at-large
supporting organization (ALSO) would only be open to domain name holders.."
is false.  The Committee proposed an ALSO as a framework for informed
participation of *any interested individual,* not just for domain name
holders.

If you are interested in learning additional facts about At-Large and the
At-Large Study Committee, please see our website at www.atlargestudy.org or
contact one of the ALSC members whose email address is available on the
website.

Thank you.

Denise Michel
Executive Director
At Large Study Committee
dmichel@atlargestudy.org