ICANN opens debate on transparency

Remmy Nweke

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has announced a new public comment forum on the principles of transparency and accountability on how best to manage the Internet at the global level.

ICANN also informed that the forum could be located at the http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-16oct06.htm.

This forum, it was also gathered, has until Tuesday, October 31 to accept responses from the public.

"Responses are sought by October 31, 2006 and based on the responses received among other research, a first draft of the principles will be published for community comment in November, 2006,” a press statement from ICANN said, stressing it is hoped that the Management Operating Principles will be adopted by the Board as part of the Strategic Plan at the Sao Paulo meeting, come early December.

One of the specific questions ICANN is asking, "What standards of transparency are appropriate in ICANN operations and activity?"

The obvious answer is that the appropriate standard of transparency is set by ICANN's Bylaws: "the maximum extent feasible" hence it’s unclear after the announcement if someone at ICANN wants to change that standard.

However, it's odd that this is slated for inclusion in ICANN's Strategic Plan.

The only non-spam comments submitted to ICANN's previous public forum on the draft Strategic Plan were mine, related to exactly this issue.

But until now, ICANN has entirely ignored them http://forum.icann.org/lists/stratplan-draft-comments/msg00000.html
http://forum.icann.org/lists/stratplan-draft-comments/Also comments could be sent to , and viewed at .

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