[ga-nominations] Acceptance of Nomination to Serve as Chair of the General Assembly of the DNSO

["Hans K. Klein" <hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu>]

Acceptance of Nomination to Serve as Chair of the General Assembly of the
DNSO 
==============================================================================

Hans Konrad Klein
Email: hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu

Background information:

Currently I am on the faculty of Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy
(http://www.spp.gatech.edu/).  My research is in political factors in the
development of large technical systems, particularly the Internet and
Intelligent Transportation Systems.  I am particularly interested in the
design of organizational and representational mechanisms for top-level
administration and policy-setting for technological systems.  My expertise
is very relevant to the issues facing the DNSO in general and the future GA
Chair in particular.

I also serve as the Chair of Computer Professionals for Social
Responsibility (http://www.CPSR.org).  This September I organized and
chaired CPSR's conference on ICANN and DNS issues.  I also head up CPSR's
working group on DNS.  Through these activities I have a good knowledge of
the issues facing the DNSO.

I have been affiliated with the Internet Society (ISOC), where I have have
co-chaired the public policy track for four of ISOC's annual INET conferences.

Before entering academia I worked for five years in the software industry
in the U.S., Germany, France, and Italy.  I speak those languages.  I hold
the following degress:  BS in EECS from Princeton University (1983);  MS
and PhD in political science/technology policy from MIT (1993, 1996).

Objectives in the role as Chair of the GA
=========================================
ICANN's bylaws define the GA as a separate body in the DNSO.  Clearly it is
intended to have an independent existence from the other representative
body in DNSO, the Names Council.

Both the GA's independence and its very existence remain to be realized.
To really exist, the GA must become organized.  In that way it can do
something.  Being organized will involve putting in place some basic
mechanisms like decision-making procedures, secretariat, some liaison
mechansisms and so on.

The GA will be an independent body once it either represents different
constituents than the NC or at least represents them differently (as
individuals).  Whatever the GA becomes, it should not be a mirror image of
the NC.  That would be contrary to the intentions of the bylaws.

I see my personal role as largely that of facilitator (rather than as
leader).  I know the issues, I know many of the stakeholders.  I do not
propose to impose a vision on the GA;  rather I proposed to help the
various individuals and groups organize themselves to transform the GA into
an independent and effective body.  I believe my status as a newcomer to
the group (biut not to the issues) will be an advantage in serving as a
facilitator.

Ultimately, the GA should be an independent partner working in creative
tension and collaboration with the Names Council.  I will seek to help the
GA bring that about.


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  Hans K. Klein
  Assistant Professor			Phone: 404-894-2258
  School of Public Policy, MC:0345	Fax:   404-894-0535
  D.M. Smith Building, 313		Email: hans.klein@pubpolicy.gatech.edu
  Georgia Tech
  Atlanta, GA 30332-0345
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