RE: [wg-review] SME constituency?

["Joanna Lane" <jo-uk@rcn.com>]

On Fri, Jan 12, 2001 at 03:59:37PM -0500, Joanna Lane wrote:
> > Given that a sole trader cannot not join a Chamber of Commerce (which
> > represents only limited companies/ corporations)
>
> <I don't believe that is true in the US.  Moreover the ICC web site says
> that individuals can be accepted as members.>
>
> Kent,
> My comment refers to UK sole traders and I stand by my statement, but you
> raise an interesting point.
> Would it be correct to say therefore that a US sole trader may join the BC
> through a Chamber of Commerce, whereas a UK sole trader cannot join any
> constituency?

<My point was that it may be possible for UK sole traders to join the
ICC directly.  In any case, I believe that a UK sole trader could join
the BC directly.>

I  have extracted the relevant information from ICC @
http://www.iccwbo.org/home/intro_icc/how_to_join_icc.asp as to the cost of
direct membership to ICC, which is - 10 000 FRF (approximately US$1500) per
year for 'local' members, i.e. local chambers of commerce, local companies,
professional individuals. I suggest this would be prohibitive for most sole
traders, even if they could qualify as "professional individuals". In
addition, I have written to Ms Katherine Hedger of the ICC UK Chapter to try
and determine what, if any, representation exists for sole traders within
the local chapter. When I receive a reply, I will let you have it, either
through this WG, if still in existence, or directly.


> > and I am not aware of any
> > other associations that represent sole traders, the only part of the
BC's
> > charter that I have found that may be applicable is:-
> > <snip>
> > b. Any legally recognized for-profit business enterprise that has been
> > delegated a domain, that uses the Internet to conduct for-profit
business
> > and that has been in business for at least one year. >
> >
> > If I am a sole trader, can I join the BC?
>
> <Is a sole trader a "legally recognized for-profit business enterprise"?>
>
> I am not here for a test. I am simply trying to help us reach consensus by
> identifying issues that need further consideration and clarification in
and
> with respect to IDNH in particular. On the face of it, this seems to be
one
> of them. With the greatest respect, it would be more helpful if you could
> answer my questions instead of throwing them back at me.

<I'm sorry, didn't mean to seem snide -- it just seems to me that the
answer to your question was obvious -- I would be astounded if the BC
rejected sole traders, *as I understand the term*.  The goal of the BC is
not, as the conspiracy theorists would have it, to exclude any form of
legitimate business.>

 Apology accepted.

<But I don't know for *sure* what a "sole trader" is, so if it in fact
doesn't meet the definition of a "legally recognized for-profit business
enterprise", then it wouldn't be let in.  And, in fact, you are in a
much better position to answer that question than I am.>

If  "legally recognized" means IRS Regulations, then the answer is yes, but
as explained previously, a sole trader falls into the category of the
self-employed and as such, their earnings may be derived from a part-time
hobby (in addition to full time employment) or be a fulltime occupation
producing income of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars p.a.
This is of national concern because it affects the amount of National
Insurance contributions a person has to make to fund the National Health
Service that provides free medical care, but I don't think that is any
concern of ICANN or particularly helpful to us.

I suggest that we progress by giving consideration to 1) whether UK sole
traders are already represented in the BC through the ICC, and if not 2)
whether the costs of direct membership of the ICC constitute an unreasonable
barrier to entry and if so, 3)  which would be the appropriate constituency
to represent their interests directly, taking into consideration that ICANN
must not be seen to be discriminating by nationality. Also to be considered
4) how to increase participation and fully fund the membership.

As a matter of interest, I am a British Citizen living in New York with
small businesses in both the UK and the US, so I do feel I have some
expertise to bring to the table with respect to these issues.

Best wishes,
Joanna


--
Kent Crispin                               "Be good, and you will be
kent@songbird.com                           lonesome." -- Mark Twain
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