<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div id="doctitle"><p class="title">Thousands of Voices Get Direct Say At ICANN</p><p class="docdate">29 March 2007</p></div><p>Internet
users from three of ICANN's five global regions will now have direct
input to the organization thanks to the creation of three Regional
At-Large Organisations (RALOs).</p><p>Memorandums of Understanding
creating RALOs for Africa and Europe were signed today by ICANN and
member groups of the RALOs in a special ceremony at ICANN's 28th Public
Meeting in Lisbon. The third RALO — Asia-Australia-Pacific — was
announced and will be formally signed at the 30th Public Meeting to be
held later this year.</p><p>“This is a fantastic day for Internet users
in Africa, in Europe, and in the Asia-Australia-Pacific region. The
creation of RALOs gives average Internet users the chance to influence
decisions that shape the security and stability of the Internet,” said
Dr Paul Twomey, President and CEO of ICANN.</p><p>The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) of ICANN represents Internet users in ICANN.</p><p>"ICANN
deals with issues that are technical but hugely important to Internet
users. At-Large is the place to be if you want to participate — and
RALOs provide direct input to us," said Jacqueline Morris, ALAC Chair
from Trinidad and Tobago.</p><p>The first RALO, the Latin America -
Caribbean Regional At-Large Organization was created at the 27th ICANN
public meeting held in São Paulo in December 2006. Today's announcement
means four of ICANN's five global regions have RALOs.</p><p>The people
who RALOs represent are incredibly diverse. For example, groups from
Africa taking part in today include a network of journalists based in
Tanzania reporting on Internet issues (JUSTA-AFRICA), and Internet
Society chapters from countries as diverse as Mali, Benin, South
Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.</p><p>European user
groups participating include Internet Society chapters throughout
Eastern and Western Europe, a network of science and Information and
Communications Technology professionals in Germany, and academic
professionals.</p><p>More information on the creation of RALOs is available at <a href="http://alac.icann.org/applications/">http://alac.icann.org/applications/</a></p><div> </div>Rebecca Wanjiku,<br>journalist,<br>p.o box 33515, <br>Nairobi.00600<br>Kenya.<br><br>Tel. 254 720 318 925<br><br><span>blog:<a target="_blank" href="http://beckyit.blogspot.com/">http://beckyit.blogspot.com/</a></span><div><br></div></div><br>
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