[kictanet] ICANN: Africa must work hard too...

[Wamuyu Gatheru]

The notion of the USA contributing 90% to ICANN ,because most registrars, are based there was challenged at the ccNSO meeting yesterday. The registrars obtain their revenues from internet users across the world - and Africa's share is growing especially with broadband. Europeans and others who spoke thereafter in the ccNSO meeting all began their statements by saying that they make payments to ICANN.

regards, Wamuyu



________________________________
From: "alice at apc.org" <alice at apc.org>
To: wamuyulearn at yahoo.co.uk
Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Sent: Tue, 9 March, 2010 17:52:40
Subject: [kictanet] ICANN: Africa must work hard too...

http://wanjiku.co.ke/

ICANN: Africa must work hard too...
08 03 2010
Comments: 3
Available in: English

There are many African governments and citizens who do not understand the
role of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

For some, ICANN should operate in the bottom later ensuring that we have
internet access and that the pipes are faster. Others think that ICANN
should be involved in the running of domain registries, which are in
shambles and in some cases fighting over petty issues. Others think that
ICANN is there to fund them; talk of reliance on aid.

Of course ICANN has no role in all these things and what it points is that
more outreach is needed and maybe ICANN should have an office in Africa.

But how? According to Rod Beckstrom, 90 percent of ICANN contributions
come from North America, so that may be the reason why we have 3 offices
in the US and none in Africa.

That makes sense; if Africa does not contribute anything, how will the
office be supported? So, for Africa to be on level terms, then we must
also be willing to contribute, but am not sure how when our registry
operations are still manual.

I was chatting with Rafik Dammak, who accuses me of complaining or whining
too much but then, what do I do?

Rafik told me of how the various constituencies within ICANN are always
looking for participants but what do you do when they dont contribute to
those meetings and in some cases stay outside within the coffee houses
instead of meeting rooms?

Yes, its good to have geographical representations but we also need to
start bringing something on the table and contributing to the debate more
than we do currently.

Regarding the financial contributions, I have no words; will leave it for
the others.

Ends


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