Re: [ICANN-EU] Questions for Jeanette Hofmann and the other candidates

[Alf Hansen <aha@uninett.no>]

Joop,

Since you also addressed "other candidates", I will answer.

Joop Teernstra wrote:
> 
> Dear Jeanette and other candidates,
> 
> I have had to adjust to the regionality that ICANN has forced upon us all.
> 
> On the Idno -discuss list we discussed the backing of Karl Auerbach as
> candidate for the Board.
> Then the Asian-Pacific candidates.
> 
> Now I find that my own vote can only be used to support a European candidate.
> (I am a Dutch expatriate)
> 
> Before committing themselves to the backing of any (self-or
> member-nominated) European candidate, Individual Domain Owners would like
> to know the following from the European candidates:

I am nom. com. nominated, but I think it is of some value anyway to
express my position, since I am asked to do so. Although being nominated
as a candidate to the oard, I do not have all the ansews to everything,
but I will try to express my attitude to the questions.

> 
> 1.How are you going to promote the representation of Individuals in the DNSO?

An important part of the DNSO is the DNSO GA.

My experience withe the DNSO GA is that "it is not working, and it has
to be fixed". Roberto and Harald is doing an excellent job as chair and
co-chair under the given conditions, but I think ICANN should take the
initiative to review the DNSO GA, including representation
(Organizations and Individuals).

> Are you going to actively support the admission of a separate constituency
> for this group?

I think the constituencies also should undergo a continous review. I
will not myself propose a separate constituency for Individuals (I
assume this is what you are refering to). But if the question comes up,
I will take active part. Right now my position is that the At-Large is
an oportunity for Individuals. DNSO is an oportunity for Supporters of
Domain Names. Yes, Individuals can also be supporters of Domain Names,
and Supporters of Domain  Names can be Individuals.

> 
> 2. What are you proposing to do about  further balancing the DNSO's
> representativeness?

I am not sure if I understand the question correctly. DNSO is supposed
to give advice to the ICANN Board. The DNSO GA has to be "fixed" to be
able to sort out all the views and conclude with advice to the Board
based on consensus. The DNSO selects 3 Board members. I am right now not
able to say if the numer "3" is too small or too big. I think rotation
of board members between Geographical Regions is good, and perhaps one
could also consider rotation between constituencies.

> 
> 3. What specific checks do you propose on the powers of the Names Council?

The NC should have the power to decide if the discussions and proposals
from the GA is founded on the grounds of ICANN's values (consensus). The
NC should have the power to formulate exact advices to the ICANN Board,
based on input from the DNSO GA. The GA should have the possibility to
add "footnotes" to the NC advices, in such a way that the Board receives
such information.

> 
> 4. Why don't you want to get paid?

Are you talking to me? I never said that. I want that ICANN should pay
my expenses if I am elected. I can understand that there will be a lot
of mistrust and indictments if companies or other groups are paying
Board members.

> 
> Being an informed ICANN At Large Director is a full time job. Who will pay
> you for your livelihood?

Being an informed ICANN At Large Director is an honour, because a lot of
people have given you their vote. If I am elected, I will not give up my
current employment. I am a full time Director at UNINETT FAS A/S, a non
commercial company in Norway. An ICANN Director is elected based on
personal qualifications, and is obliged to be loyal to ICANN when acting
as a Board member, and not to his or her company or to other groups.
There may be cases where there is a conflict of interest, and ICANN has
defined a detailed process in order to handle this in a best possible
way.

> 
> I think that's enough to get started on.

I hope was able to exprees my opinions.

> 
> Candidates who are serious about speaking out for the Individual DN owners
> and micro-business ("mom& pop" businesses), should not hesitate to join the
> idno-discuss list and copy their replies and comments there.
> 

You asked a lot of questions about DNSO matters. I had expected more
questions along the lines:

- How will you contribute to an organization of the At-Large membership
  such that all individual views can be taken into account and presented
  in a structured way as advices to the ICANN Board?

- What is your view on an "At-Large Council"?

- Do you think the 5 At-Large Board members (later 9) is enough power
  to the At-Large membership?

- etc.

but they will probably come in the next round...


> 
> 
> --Joop Teernstra LL.M.--
> the Cyberspace Association and
> the constituency for Individual Domain Name Owners
> http://www.idno.org

Best regards,
-- 
Alf Hansen                     Mail address:
                                 UNINETT FAS A/S
aha@uninett.no                   N-7465 Trondheim, Norway
Home page:                     Phone: +47 73 55 79 00
http://domen.uninett.no/~alf/  Fax:   +47 73 55 79 01