RE: [gnso-idn-wg] Chair of GNSO IDN working group

["Ram Mohan" <rmohan@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marilyn, Bruce, members of the GNSO IDN Working Group,
I am humbled and honored by your nomination of me to be the chair of the
GNSO IDN Working Group, and upon careful consideration, I accept the
nomination.

We already agree that the introduction of Internationalized Domain Names is
a matter of critical priority for the Domain Name System.  I have
consistently pointed out that policy and process considerations far outweigh
the technical ones, but should not be done by ignoring or setting aside
technical issues.  My task as Chair will be to ensure that sufficient
discussion of policy implications and appropriate examination of those
relevant areas occur.

The Internet community deserves and requires a thorough and well balanced
approach to the numerous issues that surround the introduction of IDNs at
the top level.  Thought leadership and balanced policy approaches come from
the creation of consultative processes that listen to points of view from
interested parties.  In this vein, I am pleased to bring to your attention
some aspects of my recent professional history.

I am the CTO and VP Business Operations for Afilias - the registry services
provider trusted to work as the technical operator for 9 sovereign nations
ccTLDs, in addition to the info, org, mobi and aero gTLDs.  I am an advisor
to the Government of India on Internet and domain name policy and technology
issues.  I work with the language community in India to ensure that the
country's 22+ languages are represented online, including collaboration with
the Unicode consortium.  Until recently, I sat on the Board of a
not-for-profit organization (The Metropolitan Career Center) and helped
bring about fundamental change to technology policy in the Philadelphia
urban region that helps disadvantaged individuals become technically
literate, and thereby improve their economic lives.  I work with several
developing countries to ensure that national technology policy brings
increased access for their peoples to the Internet.  I have helped bring
funds to the African Francophone initiative online, with focus on policy,
process and linguistic aspects of increasing digital diversity.  I am the
co-author of the segment on multi-lingualism in an upcoming book on
localization in the Asia Pacific.

In the ICANN arena, some of you may already know that I was an active member
of the first GNSO Whois policy taskforce.  I am part of the team that helped
write the ICANN IDN Guidelines, which have been widely adopted by both
ccTLDs and gTLDs, and am a member of the IDN-PAC.  As a founding member of
the Nominating Committee, I was instrumental in bringing about fundamental
change to the constitution of ICANN's governing and policy making bodies.
As a member of the Security & Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC), I was one
of the panelists who spoke publicly against the introduction of the wildcard
service (SiteFinder) introduced by a major registry in 2003.  In each of
these initiatives, I have served as a team member and also subcommittee
chair - and, I believe, for the good of the Internet.

In the technology area, I have made a few modest contributions towards the
development of the industry standard EPP protocol, IDNs in applications,
operational best practices, and hold several patents. 

Experience, integrity, leadership and the ability to build consensus are, in
my opinion, key attributes to being the Chair of any multi-stakeholder
working group.  For IDNs, we have a lot of ground to cover, and our task is
to ensure that relevant policy topics are appropriately discussed, with an
aim to reach consensus.  I believe I will deliver on this task, and that I
bring the four key qualities to Chair the IDN WG.

Please feel free to write to me should you have further thoughts on this
topic.

Best Regards,
Ram
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ram Mohan
Vice President, Business Operations
Chief Technology Officer
Afilias (http://www.afilias.info)
p: +1.215.706.5700 x103; f: +1.215.706.5701
m: +1.215.431.0958
e: rmohan@xxxxxxxxxxxx | skype: gliderpilot30
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-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gnso-idn-wg@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-idn-wg@xxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of marilynscade@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 4:58 AM
To: Bruce Tonkin; owner-gnso-idn-wg@xxxxxxxxx; gnso-idn-wg@xxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [gnso-idn-wg] Chair of GNSO IDN working group

I second Ram Moham, with the following additional recommendation. 

However we agree to work out this, I think Bruce shld serve as chair ex
officio or vice chair for purposes of continuity. I understand the work load
distribution issues, but believe some kind of role like this, given links
into new gTLD PDP, and overall linkage to Council would make a continued
role for Bruce, but augumentative for linkage, not substantively,  would
bridge what I would otherwise see as gaps. 

I am familiar with Ram's background in this area, and support the need for a
chair of the working group of someone with strong technical understanding. 

I have also given thought to an assumption, and will state it.  Any member
of the Working Group will have the same 'interest' statement/requirements of
the Council/Task Force, etc. 

That must be true for all members of the working group, of course. 

Can you verify, Bruce, that Councill extends this requirement to the working
group, as we do TFs? 

Finally, just to clarify why I am making this seconding of Ram Mohan. 

I am sitting in an excellent session at the IGF addressing theis among other
issues, and it reinforces my view of the interdependence of the technical
challenges with other aspects of the policy. It is realtimed transcribed,
and others interested may wish to read it as interesting and useful
background. 

I personally look forward to the important continues examination of policy
issues as we work in the working group. 

Please accept my seconding of Mr. Mohan. 

Best regards from Athens. 

Marilyn Cade
BC Councilor

Regards,
Marilyn Cade
  

-----Original Message-----
From: "Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2006 20:43:04 
To:<gnso-idn-wg@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [gnso-idn-wg] Chair of GNSO IDN working group

Hello All,

The GNSO Council at its last meeting decided to re-instate the GNSO IDN
working group to track the IDN activities within ICANN, and also
identify tasks for the GNSO.   I have also discussed with the ccNSO
chair the idea of having a joint meeting between the GNSO IDN working
group and the ccNSO IDN working group in Sao Paulo (probably on the
Sunday morning at the beginning of the ICANN week - e.g breakfast).

I originally chaired this working group as it had a relatively
short-term focus on reviewing the IDN issues report, and identifying the
next steps with respect to a PDP.

I would now like to hand over the role of chair to another member of the
GNSO IDN working group.

I have given this a bit of thought and would like to nominate Ram Mohan,
Vice President of Business Operations at Afilias.   Ram is a member of
the SSAC committee, and the President's Advisory Committee on IDNs.  Ram
has bee involved in the roll-out of IDNs at the second level of .info,
and has also been closely involved with .in (India).   I think Ram
brings the right blend of experience in implementing IDNs and an
understanding of the needs of countries that use scripts other than the
Latin script.

I would like to open the topic up for other members of the working group
to express an interest in the role of chair, or other members of the
committee who may wish to nominate another person.

I am also interested in hearing from others that would like to second
Ram's nomination.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin