Date: 5 Aug 2014
Time: 11:00 – 12:30
Venue: Tapas 1
Remote Participation LInks: Video / Text / Adobe Connect
| Workshop Title | ICANN Globalization from a Regional Perspective |
| Thematic Area of Interest | Globalization of ICANN and the IANA function |
| Specific Issues of Discussions & Description | The global Internet infrastructure embodies public goods for all, which means everyone has indiscriminate rights to share and benefit from this platform. The operating principle of ICANN, which is one of the main organizations who undertake the responsibilities of managing Internet critical resources, ought to phase match the global public nature of Internet per se. At present, with the tendency that multistakeholders mode has been accepted by more and more actors on Internet earth, globalization is necessary for ICANN to gain its legitimacy. Actually, ICANN has made efforts on its globalization, including setting up six President’s Globalization Advisory Groups on AOC, Policy Structures, legal structures, root server system, IANA Multistakeholder accountability as well as internet governance.Although the globalization of ICANN showed some progresses, a series of unsatisfactory issues should give serious cause for concern, which has existed for a long time, especially in the underrepresented status and uneven representation of diverse regions. Regarding to AOC issue, the public responsibility of ICANN was granted by AOC signed with the United States government in 2009, however, which ought to be entrusted by global commitment. With respect to the organizational structure of ICANN, it pursues multistakeholders principle, but the ICANN policy making process and operation from respective stakeholders shows obvious imbalance. As ICANN policy making process is sometimes like a closed club of incumbent stakeholders, developing stakeholders sink into inferiority due to deficiency in capital, technology, relationship and capacity. In 20 seats of 2014 ICANN Board, developed countries constitute14 seats (U.S. 6), but developing countries account for only 6 seats. In terms of the legitimate structure of ICANN, there lacks a set of supervision mechanism based on complimentary parallel international structure. Moreover, the distribution and operation of root zone servers is imbalanced, and the process of IANA function transition should be included appeals from diverse stakeholders.Therefore in this workshop, a panel is organized with distinguished panelists from underrepresented communities, capacity building programs and regional organizations. The workshop will discuss prospective of ICANN globalization process from our regional perspective, which include the following issues:
1. What is the influence and function of regional representatives having on ICANN globalization? 2. How to engage the regional representatives in the policy making of ICANN? 3. How to build up a dialogue mechanism of inclusive IANA function transition process for diverse multistakeholders? 4. How to build more accountable and actable root zone server operational structure to enhance the consumer trust?
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| Expected Format and Target Panel Members |
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| Workshop Organiser | Hongbin ZHU, senior international policy strategistChina Internet Network Information Center |