[Kictanet] ICANN seeks input on transparency and accountability

[alice at apc.org]

(Apologies for cross posting)


ICANN has announced a new public comment forum and list of questions 
related to principles of transparency and accountability:

http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-16oct06.htm

"Responses are sought by October 31, 2006. Based on the responses received 
and other research, a first draft of the principles will be published for 
community comment in November, 2006. 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."

Among the specific questions ICANN is asking is, "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". It's impossible to tell 
from the announcment if someone at ICANN wants to change that standard. 

It's odd that this is intended 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/

Comments can be sent to <principles-comments at icann.org>, and can be viewed 
at <http://forum.icann.org/lists/principles-comments/>.