[ALSC-Forum] Query for Sims, Lynn and Dyson

[Sandy Harris]

A couple of weeks back, in a thread titled "[ALSC-Forum] Evaluation of NAIS
and ALSC Reports" I wrote:

> In the controversy around Stuart Lynn's recent discussion paper on alternate
> roots, ICANN management (quite correctly in my view) claimed that principles
> set out in the White Paper and elsewhere were part of ICANN's mandate, and
> should be treated as part of existing policy.
> 
> As I see it, the notion of nine At Large directors is another such case.
> 
> See, for example Dyson's 1998 letter assuring IANA of ICANN's excellent
> intentions:

I blundered there; she was of course writing to NTIA, not IANA.
 
> http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/press/ICANN111098.htm
> 
> " ... elect the nine At Large Directors. ... the Board has an unconditional
>     mandate to create a membership structure that will elect the At Large
>     Directors of the Board

I just love that word "unconditional".
 
> " ... the Board, which will consist of the elected representatives of the
>       entire Internet community
> 
> " Esther Dyson
> " Interim Chairman
> " On Behalf of the ICANN Board
> And the actual Bylaws attached to that letter have, in Article 9:
> 
> " Each Board after the Initial Board shall be comprised as follows:
> "
> "   (i) Three (3) Directors nominated by the Address Supporting Organization ...
> "  (ii) Three (3) Directors nominated by the Domain Name Supporting Organization,...
> " (iii) Three (3) Directors nominated by the Protocol Supporting Organization ...
> "  (iv) Nine  (9) At Large Directors, ...
> "   (v) The ... President of the Corporation.
> 
> This as much a part of the ICANN mandate as the "there can be only one" notion
> about roots that Lynn referred to.

Since I wrote that in reply to a post from Joe Sims, referred to an argument
of Stuart Lynn's and quoted Esther Dyson, I'd invite comment from each of
them. Joe did reply to my post, but did not address this point.