Comments on the role of Trusted Community Representatives

[elewis <edlewisjr@xxxxxxx>]

Background - I am currently one of the seven “west coast TCR’s.”  A year ago 
there was an internal discussion on the role of TCRs and my comments below are 
derived from my comments then.

For the most part, the role of the TCR is fine but there are two serious flaws.

The first flaw is that TCRs are expected to find their own funds to cover 
travel and time required to participate.

The main purpose of the TCR is to provide what I’d call an active auditing 
function.  TCRs observe the actions of the KSK signing operator as well as 
participate in a critical step of the process.  There is a passive auditor 
involved, meaning they observe the operator (and the TCRs) but do not play a 
role in the process.  They do post-process the audit trail.

The passive auditor is under contract (compensated).  The TCRs are not - with 
the rationale that it would be some sort of conflict of interest.  With the 
passive auditor being paid, in my opinion, I don’t think that rationale holds 
water.  Given that ICANN designed this system to be inside the US and rely on 
TCRs from different regions to enter the US, it’s even more do a duty of ICANN 
to make sure the TCRs are able (can afford) to attend.  And funding assistance 
will make it easier for broader participation (thinking in a commercial sense).

I propose that ICANN provide reimbursement of travel expenses, in accordance to 
travel policies that exist, upon request of the TCRs.

The second flaw is that the process of a TCR ending their responsibilities in 
incompletely specified.

There is a process for changing a TCR and it has been exercised once to far.  A 
TCR can resign.  But there are no provisions for removing a TCR who is unable 
to perform or has failed to perform duties (such as not being able to 
participate for a run of ceremonies).

Thirteen of the current fourteen active TCRs have been performing since the 
inception of the process about 4 years ago.  The original thought was that this 
would be a temporary assignment but as with many processes, it is habit 
forming.  As a TCR, this isn’t a problem, but rolling through “new blood” will 
strengthen the auditing function that the TCRs provide.

I’d suggest term limits, if just to get some churn in participation.  I’d shy 
away from “elections” because of the problem determining who can vote (and how 
often) or some other hard to administer selection process.

Ed Lewis