<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 S�o 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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