(Fwd) Policy Post 6.12: Register to Vote in the Upcoming ICANN

[lsi <lsi@lsi.clara.net>]

[: hacktivism :]

still have over a week to register

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	info@cdt.org
To:             	policy-posts@cdt.org
Subject:        	Policy Post 6.12: Register to Vote in the Upcoming ICANN Election
Date sent:      	Wed, 28 Jun 2000 16:56:20 -0400 (EDT)
Send reply to:  	info@cdt.org


CDT POLICY POST Volume 6, Number 12 June 28, 2000

A BRIEFING ON PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING CIVIL 
LIBERTIES ONLINE
from THE CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS:
(1) Become a "Cybercitizen" - Register to Vote in the ICANN 
Elections!
(2) How to Become an ICANN Member & Register to Vote (3) How 
the ICANN
Election Will Work (4) More Background on ICANN
_______________________________________________________
_____

(1) BECOME A "CYBERCITIZEN" - REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE 
ICANN ELECTIONS!

An election vitally important for the future of the Internet is
getting underway.  The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN), an international nonprofit body that makes 
important
technical decisions for the Internet, is organizing a global election
for its Board of Directors.

The ICANN Board makes decisions on such crucial issues as the 
addition
of new Top Level Domains (such as ".store" and ".banc") and the
resolution of trademark disputes involving domain names. ICANN 
also
oversees the assignment of domain names and Internet Protocol 
numbers,
which some compare to "real estate" on the Internet; they are your
"location" online.

Although ICANN's mission is supposed to be strictly technical, its
decisions will indirectly influence the openness of the Internet and
have the potential to raise critical free speech, privacy and other
civil liberties issues.

Moreover, there are some who would want ICANN to take on a broader
role -- one that would directly place it in the position of making
policy decisions affecting free speech and privacy.

CDT is urging all Netizens to register and vote to protect the open,
decentralized nature of the Internet -- and hold ICANN to a narrow,
technical mission.
____________________________________________________________

(2)  HOW TO BECOME AN ICANN MEMBER & REGISTER TO VOTE

Registration is open to anyone 16 years old or over with a valid email
account and mailing address.  You can register to vote at
http://www.cdt.org/action/icann and get important election news,
campaign information and background on ICANN at CDT's web site
http://www.cdt.org/dns/

Voter registration will be shut off at the end of July, so it's
important to sign up NOW if you want to be part of the voting
membership.  Elections will begin on September 20, but only those who
have registered in advance will be eligible to vote then.
_____________________________________________________________

(3)  HOW THE ICANN ELECTION WILL WORK

The upcoming election is for five new "At-Large" directors,
representing ordinary Internet users.  The process is intended to
select five directors, one from each of five different regions of the
world -- Africa, Asia/ Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and
North America. The five will join 9 existing directors that have
already been appointed by the technical, business and nonprofit
organizations that participate in ICANN, four members of ICANN's
initial board whose terms have been extended, and the ICANN president.

This is ICANN's first election, and the first online, global election
ever.  It will set the standard by which future online elections are
judged and it will be an important test of whether ICANN can function
as a body representing the public interest. CDT believes that it is
vitally important that as many Netizens as possible get involved, so
that we can ensure the public's voice is heard in the future of ICANN.

Although the voting process hasn't been finalized yet, in the most
likely voting scheme, you (as a voting member of ICANN) would be asked
to indicate your favorite choices for director from a list of
nominees. Some of these candidates will be nominated by an ICANN
committee, others will petition to get on the ballot. You would list
your choices for director in order of preference, and the winners of
the election would be the candidates with the highest and most
consistent ratings.
___________________________________________________________

(4)  MORE BACKGROUND ON ICANN

ICANN was formed in October 1998 to transfer management of the domain
name system from the US government to a private, nonprofit
organization. ICANN consists of a board of directors, three Supporting
Organizations, several advisory committees and an At Large membership.
(An organizational chart is available at
http://www.icann.org/general/icann-org-chart_frame.htm)

CDT has been very active in monitoring ICANN and in participating in
its development. In March, CDT and Common Cause issued a report on
ICANN in which we pushed for the direct, democratic election of
directors by the public, and urged ICANN to limit itself to its
narrow, technical mission. The report is available at
http://www.cdt.org/dns/icann/study/

Register to vote at
http://www.cdt.org/action/icann/

More background information on ICANN is available at
http://www.cdt.org/dns/icann.

For an introduction to domain-name issues, read "Your Place in
Cyberspace", at http://www.cdt.org/dns/yourplace/

---------------------------------------
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