Re: [ga-roots] Re: ICANN Policy -- revised version

["Milton Mueller" <Mueller@syr.edu>]

Clearly you are completely unfamiliar with the history of the
US Commerce Dept process that produced the White Paper.
The original request for comments asked for suggestions of
guiding principles. "Stability" was a principle that emerged over-
whelmingly from the comments of the public. The Commerce
Dept simply recognized this as a consensus point. It also was
ratified by the International Forum on the White Paper.

In short, there is a well-documented consensus process that
produced an adherence to "stability" as a guiding principle for
ICANN. It is not "derived from the documents." The documents
were derived from the bottom up process.

--MM

>>> "M. Stuart Lynn" <lynn@icann.org> 06/15/01 03:41PM >>>
ICANN has many policies that are embodied in our charter documents 
that have not been separately and explicitly codified in a single 
policy document. For example, we have a policy derived from those 
documents that commit us to further the stability of the Internet. 
There has been no bottom-up process to codify that - except as was 
embodied in the founding of ICANN and in the finalization of those 
documents.

When there are important issues on the table, I will continue to 
summarize existing policies that may be embodied in those documents 
and elsewhere (including those that have been explicitly stated) and 
articulate them for the community. Particularly - as in this case - 
when I receive enquiries as to what our policy on a given topic may 
be. That is part of my job. This is no different than our restatement 
of IANA policies in ICP-1.

Articulating existing policies is very different from creating new 
policy. That requires consensus-based approaches. And I do not think 
any of us disagree on that.

I think we all understand our difference of views on this subject, 
and I doubt we will persuade each other. So it may be best to move 
on. But I will look forward to your specific comments.

With regards
Stuart

At 9:45 AM -0700 6/15/01, Bret Fausett wrote:
>The merits of the relative positions aside, I am concerned about a practice
>of drafting papers outside ICANN's rigorous bottom-up, policy development
>processes, calling it an attempt to codify existing policy, and then
>challenging anyone to go through the rigorous bottom-up, policy development
>process to change it.
>
>Again, the merits of the relative positions aside, I'm sure you can
>appreciate the *potential* for abuse in that kind of process. At this point,
>two and half years into the life of ICANN, if a clear policy has not already
>been written somewhere (and I'm referring to more than a few references to
>"authoritative roots" in ICANN's foundational documents), I'm not sure it
>ought to be created now in the name of "existing policy." Consensus
>policy-making is much harder work than that.
>
>I'll have more on the merits of the paper separately, but the process issues
>here are of concern.
>
>      -- Bret
>
>
>On 6/15/01 9:17 AM, "M. Stuart Lynn" <lynn@icann.org> wrote:
>
>>  It seems, Milton, that academe has arrived at a new standard since I
>>  left two years ago. Anyone who agrees with you is "honest" and anyone
>>  who disagrees is not ;-). Well, well!
>>
>>  The basis for the statement that ICANN's policy is to support a
>>  single authoritative root is extensively articulated in my document
>>  and the references clearly cited. The White Paper, the Memorandum of
>>  Understanding, and the Articles of Incorporation give clear
>  > indication of ICANN's Policy. They are ICANN's charter documents. I
>  > suggest you read them again. They are not very hard to understand and
>  > their statements with regard to an authoritative single root and to
>>  competing roots are quite clear. My statement on ICANN Policy is not
>>  unilateral -- it is well-grounded in the community processes that led
>>  to the White Paper and to the formation of ICANN.
>>
>>  You may disagree. That's fine. It would make for a dull ICANN if
>>  everyone agreed on everything.
>>
>>  And I would encourage you to follow the appropriate processes if you
>  > would like to see the current policy changed.

-- 

__________________
Stuart Lynn
President and CEO
ICANN
4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
Tel: 310-823-9358
Fax: 310-823-8649
Email: lynn@icann.org
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