Workshop Proposal 1

In March 2014,  the US Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its intention to transition its stewardship over the key Internet domain name functions to global stakeholders, tasking ICANN, as the one that administers the contract with NTIA, to convene the discussion with the global community on the transition process. This was kick-started at the 49^th ICANN Public Meeting in Singapore in late-March, and a bottom-up process is being developed on how the global multi-stakeholder community will be taking over the reins from the US government. The objective is clear: keeping the Internet open and unified – fundamentals to sustaining the Internet’s growth and benefits. Given the requirement for the process to be as inclusive as possible, the Asia Pacific Community, which constitutes almost half of all Internet users in the world, will need to participate in this process actively. The APrIGF Multi-stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) has organised this session to seek to facilitate a discussion for the Asia Pacific Community on how we can strengthen and increase the participation of our region in the transition process.

Proposed Discussion Area:

• Update on the status so far regarding the process that was kick-started at ICANN49 and continued at ICANN50
• Discuss the relationship, and possible impact of the IANA stewardship transition on the Asia-Pacific Community, and also specific communities within our region
• What specific areas of work would the Asia Pacific Community need to be involved in regarding the IANA stewardship transition?
• Share views on the current status of participation and representation of the Asia Pacific Community
• How can we in the Asia Pacific Community assist our own constituents to be more engaged?

• Proposed Format:
  • Roundtable discussion.
  • Led and facilitated by MSG Members:
    Kuo-wei Wu, Izumi Aizu, Sivasubramanian M.
  • Panellists: ALL attendees. (Everyone is encouraged to participate and to voice your views!)
• • Order of Proceedings/Run Down:

    • Kuo-wei Wu, ICANN Board of Director’s liaison for the NTIA IANA Functions’ Stewardship Transition Coordination Group, to provide an update on the process so far, setting the scene for discussion (15 minutes);

    • Roundtable discussion led by MSG Co-Chairs (75 minutes)

  • Pre-Plenary Briefing Session:
    • A pre-briefing session on “What is the IANA Functions’ Stewardship Transition” will be held on 3 August 2014.