AIM response

["Philip Sheppard" <philip.sheppard@xxxxxx>]

Certain ICANN consultations seem to be hampered by the terms of reference. A 
review of ALAC
- one part of a hierarchy - may both presuppose the merit or lack of it of the 
underlying
structures, and fail to be free enough to recommend far reaching proposals for 
change based
upon the basic objective.
This appears to be so for this review.
 
What is key is the following question.
Is ALAC fit for purpose as the top of the hierarchy of the at-large?
This pre-supposes the more interesting question:
Is at-large fit for purpose?
 
Successes
There have been a number of good things about the development of the at-large 
and its
hierarchy:
1. It recognised the importance of the individual user as a stakeholder.
2. It developed a global structure to herd together these individuals - a feat 
akin to
herding cats.
3. It has started to use this structure to effect change via the ALAC liaison 
role on the
GNSO Council.
 
Failures
There have been a number of disappointments in the development of the at-large 
and its
hierarchy:
4. It is impotent being only advisory.
5. The cost to benefit ratio is therefore poor.
6. Some individuals within AL  seems to be too comfortable with this advisory 
role. It is
like being a "lady of letters" writing complaints to newspapers and local 
authorities each
week, safe in the knowledge that it is not she who will act and bring about 
change. 
 
Proposal
ICANN has invested too much in AL to let it fail but ICANN has not allowed AL 
to be
integrated within the policy process.
It should be. The voice of the user is too faint within ICANN.
The Board should instruct staff to put all its efforts into the development of 
the new GNSO
non-commercial stakeholders group as the natural home for at-large.
Over time it should exist there only.
 
A separate identity could be retained for non-GNSO advisory issues to the Board 
- but this
should be seen as a minor activity.
 
At large - the user - is too important a stakeholder to be marginalised. 
Empowerment is
needed. And with that will come responsibility. 
 
Philip Sheppard
on behalf of AIM - the European Brands Association.