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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Dear all,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>>> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> Says No U.N. Body
Should Control Internet. US Ambassador David Gross will be conducting an <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>online chat about WSIS on November
2………...>>>><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>There is something very basically funny in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> attitude to
change in the IG regime. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>US says that when it - its executive authority and its
territorial law- exercises oversight control over ICANN it doesn’t amount
to exercising control.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>But when the same arrangement goes to a UN body (let
us assume the minimalist change in the IG regime where nothing changes except
that ICANN plugs into the UN, and UN exercises the same level of oversight as
US does today, and ICANN even if physically located in the US, gets UN
immunities) <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>the UN is said to be exercising
control. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>And the problem is that many in the CS falls for this
argument. They are fixated so much on certain fears about Internet getting
'controlled' that they entirely forget other issues which are as important. And
most of this CS constituency comes from the North. It is the issues of sovereignty,
legitimacy, and fairness and equity in global governance. They may trust US
more than they do UN, we in the South do not. In debates over IG, countries
like Iran, China and S Arabia are held up as self-descriptive symbols of
certain things – but please do not forget that US is also held as an
strong symbol of many uncomplimentary things for the South. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>We know the problems of bringing old political and
bureaucratic governance frameworks - and what UN or ITU can do - to the free
spirit of the Internet. And the world community has to deal with this issue,
very vigilantly. But that comes second, first of all, US must give up its
control. And if it doesn’t we must treat this <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>control as illegitimate and see US as a usurper. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>For us in the South with colonial experience, it is the
most blatant form of imperialism – stay on my side, and you will gain,
what if you do not have self-rule. We prefer legitimacy of rule to other
goodies promised to us. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>A <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
senator recently justified continued control by US of the Internet by saying
that --- <span class=body>"The United States is uniquely positioned in the
world to protect the fundamental principles of free press and free speech, upon
which the Internet has thrived,"<o:p></o:p></span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>The same argument can as effectively be
used to take over UN bodies, or to bypass them, in global governance by the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
And this no doubt is increasingly sought to be done by the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The North
led by US will quote financial constraints in setting up any new ‘global
policy body for IS issues’ but will readily spend many times more in taking
up these issues in other forums which either have less political legitimacy or
admit of greater US lordship. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>The <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>
led blocking of effective WSIS implementation/follow-up was presented in terms
which, at the bottom of it, challenge the very logic of WSIS itself – and
certainly its <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State>
phase. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>And in prepcom 2 all possibilities of
seeing worldwide ICTD investment as a urgent global need and responsibility
– that could usher in a new paradigm of development – was scuttled
again by US led governments of the North. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'>So when it is obvious that the Tunis
summit is a momentous failure, and US led Northern governments are responsible
for this failure, the CS needs to be more vocal – both in pronouncing the
failure – and the role of US in this failure of WSIS. `<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Tunisian situation is an important issue for the CS,
and we aren’t going to let go this opportunity provided to us by the WSIS
event taking place in <st1:State w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State>, to do all that we
can do in aid of improving the rights situation in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>But, as importantly, we cant let US get away with its
self-assumed description of ‘<span class=body>uniquely positioned in the
world to protect the fundamental principles of free press and free
speech’ – and not as strongly condemn what it has done to the
world’s hope for the poor and the disadvantaged from the WSIS process. <o:p></o:p></span></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Most in the CS at WSIS are apt to say to
this that they of course are critical of US – but the problem is that
they are not strident enough in their criticism, as, for example, they are of
the Tunisians. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>I have heard many say about US’s
unilateral control over IG that they are not so strident in opposing it,
because it is unlikely that US will give up its control easily. But neither do
I think <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tunisia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
is going to change so much, easily, on our protests. But don’t we still
keep making the protest, as forcefully as we can. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'>I think, the <st1:State
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State> summit should be used by the CS to tell the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
– in clear strong words – what it thinks of its usurping of the
Internet oversight – and its basic responsibility for failure of the WSIS
on all fronts. <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><b><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:State w:st="on"><span class=body><b><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Tunis</span></font></b></span></st1:State><span
class=body><b><span lang=EN-GB style='font-weight:bold'> phase has been an even
greater failure than the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City>
phase. It is the responsibility of the CS at WSIS to prepare a score card for <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State> phase (and WSIS
overall) and identify factors of failure. </span></b><span lang=EN-GB>US will
outdo everyone else by a big margin in earning red-marks in such a report card.
But US has for many years now taken such extreme geo-political stance regarding
fair global governance that most global policy related events have been
accompanied by fierce criticism of the US’s stand by the civil society. (It
is a necessary corrective to US polices, and one of the most important
responsibility of the global CS to push for reclaiming fairness and equity in
global governance) US must be quite used to it by now. Hope, the WSIS civil
society does not give them a pleasant surprise at <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State>! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><span class=body><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Parminder </span></font></span><span
lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>_________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Parminder Jeet Singh<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>IT for Change<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Bridging Development Realities and Technological
Possibilities <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>91-80-26654134<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.ITforChange.net <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>-----Original Message-----<br>
From: plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin@wsis-cs.org] On Behalf Of
Andy Carvin<br>
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 12:23 AM<br>
To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group; plenary@wsis-cs.org<br>
Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region> Says No U.N. Body Should Control
Internet (fwd)</span><span lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>[Please note that by using 'REPLY', your response goes
to the entire list. Kindly use individual addresses for responses intended for
specific people]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Click http://wsis.funredes.org/plenary/ to access
automatic translation of this message!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>_______________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The following WSIS-related article was posted recently
on the US State <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Department website. US Ambassador David Gross will be
conducting an <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>online chat about WSIS on November 2 at 11:00 a.m. EST
(1600 GMT). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Participating is open to the public, but you need to
register first by <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>emailing iipchat@state.gov. They'll then supply you
with the URL, login <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>and password. -andy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>United
States</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><span lang=EN-GB> Says
No U.N. Body Should Control Internet<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Ambassador Gross to discuss WSIS summit during
Internet chat November 2<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The U.N.-sponsored WSIS will convene on November 16-18
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tunis</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Tunisia</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Oct/25-499.html<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>By Tim Receveur<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Washington</span></font></st1:place></st1:State><span
lang=EN-GB> File Staff Writer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:State w:st="on"><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Washington</span></font></st1:State><span
lang=EN-GB> – The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region> says that transferring control of the
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Internet to the United Nations would stifle innovation
with excessive <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>bureaucracy and may help repressive regimes curtail
free expression <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>online, according to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> coordinator for international <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>communications and information policy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>In a November 2 Internet chat, Ambassador David Gross,
the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>coordinator, will preview an upcoming summit on
Internet governance and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>discuss his views on why the very nature of the
Internet as an <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>innovative and dynamic medium is at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The United Nations-sponsored World Summit on the
Information Society <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>(WSIS) will convene on November 16-18 in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tunis</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Tunisia</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
to discuss the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>future of Internet governance and ways to bring the
benefits of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>technology to the developing world.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The Internet has become “an extraordinary
mechanism for freedom of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>expression. Each year, publications are available on
the Internet; <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>people are able to directly communicate with them,
with each other, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>through the Internet,” Gross said at a
roundtable with journalists in <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>Washington</span></font></st1:place></st1:State><span
lang=EN-GB> October 6.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The current system of Internet governance “is
extraordinarily <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>participatory,” he said. “Not just by
other governments, which all of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>whom already played an important role in this, but
also by what's called <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>civil society, by private enterprise, by a whole host
of actors, by <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>technical people, academics and the like,” Gross
said. (See related <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>article and transcript.)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
government has maintained a consistent hands-off approach that <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>has allowed the Internet to grow and develop without
substantial <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>restrictions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Since 1998, a nonprofit organization named ICANN --
Internet Corporation <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>for Assigned Names and Numbers -- has been responsible
for managing and <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>coordinating the Internet's domain names, according to
ICANN.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>ICANN’s role has been to facilitate and smooth
the explosive growth of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>the Internet. Its president directs an international
staff, working from <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>three continents, who ensure that ICANN meets its
operational commitment <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>to the Internet community.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>FEARS BUREAUCRATIC CONTROL WOULD STIFLE INNOVATION<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Gross expressed concern over some other
countries’ proposals for sharing <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>or ceding private sector oversight of the Internet --
including what <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>ICANN now does -- to the United Nations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>A recent European Union proposal, for example,
outlined a new framework <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>for international cooperation that would see the
creation of a new, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>multistakeholder “forum” to develop public
policy, and international <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>government involvement in allocation of Internet
Provider (IP) <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>addressing systems.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>“As we read the EU proposal, there will be a
group of bureaucrats from <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>countries around the world that will be able to
restrict the innovation <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>that the technical people in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>, for example,
currently bring to the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Internet and their ability to be able to continue to
innovate,” Gross <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>said. “We would like to see people -- whether
it's in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Russia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>United
States</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><span lang=EN-GB>,
around the world -- be free to continue to innovate and <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>not have to seek permission or make sure that they
structure what they <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>do in a way that meets some predetermined outcome set
by a bunch of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>international government bureaucrats.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>“What the EU seems to propose is a top-down
bureaucratic structure that <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>was the way of the last century and that seems to us
to be <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>counterproductive because it stifles innovation, it
stifles the very <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>thing that's made the Internet as successful as it
is,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>He also noted that support for the EU proposal, which
was made at a <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>preparatory conference (PrepCom-3) for the <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State> summit in
September, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>was expressed by <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, among
others. “These are not, I <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>submit, the types of people who necessarily see eye to
eye with us in <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>terms of the importance of the growth and the participatory
nature of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>the Internet,” Gross said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>PrepCom-3 failed to reach agreement on a number of
contentious issues, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> is working with other
governments, private <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>enterprise and nongovernmental organizations to craft
an agreement that <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>will bridge diverse positions on how, by whom and to
what degree the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Internet should be governed or regulated.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>“We see the way in which the Internet has worked
so far, and we support <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>its continuing evolution. What we don't want to see is
an <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>intergovernmental group coming in to stifle
that,” Gross said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>He noted that the preparatory meeting would resume for
three days on the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>eve of the WSIS summit in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State>. “Between now and then, we are
already <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>and we'll continue to be very actively engaged in
bilateral discussions, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>not only with governments but with other groups --
industry, civil <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>society and the like. And, you know, we are very
hopeful that when the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>world leaders gather in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:place></st1:State> in November, that they will have a <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>document to endorse that we can all be proud
of,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>During the live Internet chat on November 2, Gross
will be available to <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>answer questions about the upcoming WSIS summit in <st1:State
w:st="on">Tunis</st1:State> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>position on various issues relating to Internet
governance. The chat <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>will be held at 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>To ask a question or make a comment, please register
at <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>iipchat@state.gov. If you already have participated in
one of our <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>previous discussions, there is no need to register
again. Just use the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>same user name and password. We neither require nor
encourage the use of <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>full names. You may identify yourself by the user name
of your choice.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>As always, your questions and comments are welcome in
advance of the <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>program and at any time during it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>-- <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>-----------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Andy Carvin<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Program Director<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:10.0pt'>EDC</span></font></st1:PlaceName><span
lang=EN-GB> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></span></st1:place><span
lang=EN-GB> for Media & Community<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>acarvin @ edc . org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>http://www.digitaldivide.net<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>http://katrina05.blogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:10.0pt'>-----------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:10.0pt'>_______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Plenary mailing list<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span lang=EN-GB
style='font-size:10.0pt'>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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