Re: [icann-eu] Draft comments on Study Committee

[Alexander Svensson <svensson@icannchannel.de>]

Very belated thanks to Jeanette for her information
on the study!

Jeanette Hofmann wrote:
> As far as I know, Bertelsmann won't get involved in the post election study.
> Unlike Bertelsmann, Markle is indeed considering to support a study. Laura
> Baylin from Markle was at the L.A. meeting. Some people from Common
> Cause, CDT, Oxford University,  the International University of Japan and
> others met several times during the meeting to discuss a potential outline of
> a
> study. Laura made quite clear that Markle likes to continue its cooperation
> with
> CDT and Common Cause. 

I received confirmations from Bertelsmann and Benton Foundation
that they will /not/ fund the Study Committee. Bertelsmann is 
only allowed to finance its own projects. CDT has just announced 
that 
  CDT will soon begin work on a study of its own, evaluating 
  the At-Large process and submitting recommendations on 
  the future of the public voice. That study will be taking 
  shape over the next few weeks.

> However, due to the criticism on its allegedly
> American-centered approach at the Cairo meeting, Markle now wants to
> extend its cooperation to the other regions.
> All in all, it is rather likely that Markle is going to fund a study. I would
> expect
> though that any funding will be bound to conditions more or less defined by
> Markle (possibly in cooperation with CDT and Common Cause). Btw, I would
> assume that any organization willing to support a study will claim some sort
> of
> control over its procedures and approaches.

I agree, but (at least to me) this seems to be less dangerous
than leaving the funding completely to commercial or
governmental interests. If possible, funding should come from 
different sources, though I currently don't see anyone except 
Markle. BTW, I wouldn't have any problem with, say, Deutsche 
Telekom (and of course others) contributing to an Open At Large 
Study Meeting somewhere in Europe -- it should only be clear that 
there is no way of "buying your way into the Study Committee". 

> Did I ever mention on this list that I had asked about funding of the study at
> the last EC-Pop meeting? The EU Commission people's response was that it
> would take 6 months at least to evaluate an application...

...just in time for a post-study study. ;)


Best regards,
/// Alexander

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