[ga] Developing an alternative to ICANN 2.0

["Richard Henderson" <richardhenderson@ntlworld.com>]

I think ICANN 2.0 perceives itself as well on the way to consolidating its
positions. Its strategy with regard to the inclusive namespace is probably
to overwhelm it and to duplicate some of its key operating tlds.

It still staggers me that they could get away with the duplication of .biz
It reflects a "Might is Right" philosophy which seems devoid of moral
principle.

So I believe that one form of challenge to ICANN is the creation of an
"umbrella" where ICANN's hegemony and poor practice can be called into
question by a multiplicity of interests : what's needed is an alliance of
various sympathetic groups, the aggregation of writers' thoughts...
intelligent participation and contributions. What's also needed is the
generation of a movement which promotes the interests of ordinary users, and
portrays them as damaged by ICANN's bias toward vested interest groups.
That's why I'm interested in the promotion of a kind of At Large outside of
ICANN, and the development of mission, structure and policy, which can
ultimately be democratised, and represent the interests of millions of
ordinary users who are by far the largest constituency of stakeholders.

Not all people being damaged by ICANN are interested specifically in the At
Large, so an umbrella would be useful to help draw together an "opposition",
particularly if we attempted to reach out to ccTLD participants etc.

If a worldwide alliance of groups could be generated, to create an
alternative axis which the media could recognise and hang hooks on, then I
believe intelligent independent thought would begin to shift away from ICANN
domination. The ccTLDs are probably reluctant to jump until they see the
bandwagon rolling, but I'm sure many are hugely dissatisfied with ICANN
(Nominet, for example) and its not implausible to imagine a world where the
multiplicity of nets became as understood as the multiplicity of TV
channels.

That's my hope - that in a few years the public will recognise a
multiplicity of Internets, mostly mirroring each other, all over the world -
but with distinctive features - and a multiplicity of tlds - and they will
just pick their internet channel like you can pick your TV channel. I think
technology will render the ICANN dinosaur obsolete in the end... but ICANN
will try to crush its opposition, and USG may step in to help under the
guise of security issues. However, technology can run roots all over the
world, and far from US constraints.

A key part of the strategy is to get the media aware of a challenge to
ICANN, and to get substantial numbers of people, and groups, interested or
involved in a revolt... or at least a serious challenge. The two main
groupings which are likely to have an impact in this are: internet users (at
large); and the ccTLDs. Obviously the inclusive roots figure in all this
too.

I see this as a two-year strategy in the first instance, and it would need
orchestration.

I take the view that the At Large (or "User") movement needs to be "given" a
coherent org, process, and website outside and independent of ICANN - with a
coherent mission and outreach plan - which we can then 'democratise' in
stages. The experience of IcannAtLarge so far indicates that to democratise
at the outset results in easy sabotage, divergent objectives and potential
inertia. What's needed is a ready set up package which people can then buy
into (not financially, but ideologically).

It should be possible to create an alternative axis, if serious and informed
participants come on board.

The inclusive roots can form part of that alternative, but I take the view
that you need to fight the opening battles/debates on the grounds
used/occupied by ICANN and the world media as well. On the other hand,
mirroring is a big part of the
future subversion of ICANN's hegemony, and the inclusive roots are there to
mirror, and diversify ICANN's monolithic dinosaur.

In a sense, think USG>> DoC >> ICANN>> their DNS, and what you've got is a
monolithic "one way only" incredibly old-fashioned and patriarchal
hierarchy. It's all "top down". The subversion needs to be lateral,
intuitive, more feminine and
co-operative. It needs an alliance of multiple interests. It needs diverse
expressions under one alternative banner. It needs genuine "bottom up"
participation.

Think alliances. Think the unpredictable. And when you're done with
'thinking' ... start feeling! The future of the Internet - what it can truly
become - is a vision thing. It cannot just be reduced to economic
imperatives and old-world domination.

An alternative axis, opposite ICANN, and beyond it, can and should be
developed.

Richard H

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