Re: [wg-review] 3. [Constituencies] Report requested by NC

[Karl Auerbach <karl@CaveBear.com>]

> It is obvious that there are in fact groups (such as the ccTLDs and the
> registrars) that are in a unique relationships with ICANN, relationships
> that are not fairly or adequately addressed by a "one person, one vote"
> rule.  The exact nature of these unique relationships is debatable, but
> that they exist is not.  These groups demand, and in fact deserve, a
> special place at the table.

I don't agree.

Indeed one could argue exactly the opposite: The ccTLDs, as they have
demonstrated, are becoming increasingly immune from ICANN control, hence
have less reason to participate in the development of policy that affects
them not.

The existance of registrars and registries as having some sort of special
interest is merely a fancy that exists in the mind of one who wants to
give those groups special powers.  In reality such businesses are simply
that - businesses.

No one is saying that a person - such as a person who has built a
registrar - who demonstrates expertise, and honest expression of that
expertise, in an area shouldn't be given a high degree of credibility.
But that hardly justifies the creation of a constituency, i.e. the
granting of privileges without demonstration that those privileges are in
accord with any objectively measurement.

		--karl--