Re: [soac-newgtldapsup-wg] Fwd: Communique: Open Letter from DCA to US Department of Commerce

[Evan Leibovitch <evan@xxxxxxxxx>]

I disagree.

Here we are, trying to advocate the improvement of domain access in the
developing world, and a group claiming authority to a TLD covering the whole
continent of Africa is stating that everything is OK with the process.

Given the support we have received from groups such as AfrICANN who are
certainly *not* happy with the status quo, I believe it is important to be
able to react when groups such as DCA claim -- in the name of a broader
community -- that what we're doing is unnecessary. By its own actions, DCA
is (whether deliberately or not) undermining our work and a response may be
IMO appropriate and justifiable.

I have no interest in judging the merits of CDA's possible application. But
I most certainly have issues with its tactics, and call into question its
mandate.

- Evan



On 20 January 2011 17:34, Avri Doria <avri@xxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> Hi,
>
> The point is, anyone can over ICANN head to NTIA.
> Lots of people do it all the time, they just don't do it as publicly as
> this.
>
> As for it being Sophia's organization, I think we should stay away from
> judging the worth of one applicant versus another.  And I recommend this
> group sail between this particular reincarnation of Scylla and Charybdis
> without getting involved.
>
> a.
>
> On 20 Jan 2011, at 16:58, Andrew Mack wrote:
>
> > I think Eric is right.  DotconnectAfrica is Sophia and there is at least
> one other group -- a much larger group -- that is working for the right to
> do .africa.  I believe based on conversations I've had with members of that
> group in Cartagena that they are more in sync with our perspective.
> >
> > Andrew
> >
> > On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 4:09 PM, Eric Brunner-Williams <
> ebw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > Evan,
> >
> > It is just Sophia Bekele.
> >
> > Eric
> >
> >
> > On 1/20/11 3:24 PM, Evan Leibovitch wrote:
> >
> > So DotConnectAfrica sees no problems with the current  process and
> > wants full steam ahead.
> >
> > That's unfortunate. It's also interesting that they choose to go over
> > ICANN's head, so to speak, appealing directly to the DoC.
> >
> > Is there anyone here who could encourage them to support our efforts?
> >
> > - Evan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: *DotConnectAfrica* <press.africa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > <mailto:press.africa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>
> > Date: 20 January 2011 07:35
> > Subject: Communique: Open Letter from DCA to US Department of Commerce
> > To: evan@xxxxxxxxx <mailto:evan@xxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >
> > Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
> > <
> http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=wkvqrzcab&v=001O3CKqe2sPwwm90v6Kco-yvqX1W89FQkaY6qK01Xw8GnPQvRTSAldlbx8gzVNZ86ouZDoosC-Loy5tbnL2_sQSXWBDo971M0sHEKq5q14v1k%3D
> >
> >
> >        <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=iu3KMDmFIAY&c=1&r=1>
> > <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=iu3KMDmFIAY&c=3&r=1>
> > <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=iu3KMDmFIAY&c=4&r=1>
> > <http://s.rs6.net/t?e=iu3KMDmFIAY&c=5&r=1>
> > <
> http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Communique--Open-Letter-from-DCA-to-US-Department-of-Commerce.html?soid=1102516344150&aid=iu3KMDmFIAY#fblike
> >
> >
> >
> > DotAfrica logo with no labelsDotConnectAfrica
> >
> > For Immediate Press Release
> >
> > 20 January 2011
> >
> >
> >
> > *Press Contact:*
> > Thomas Kamanzi, Newsletter Editor
> > tkamanzi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:tkamanzi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > DotConnectAfrica
> > www.dotconnectafrica.org
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1104224678384&s=1374&e=001ZC4vCfFE86ZASIg4ZNusfwe8EDheCA8s0q47ZXkl2yJ8Gju6GytT5P5WpCY4RTsI8xADNlLl_PtM6tsn-OpBdGJ_ys0ojYmPMgkCEHq2C4aiSzYPiEc8ig==
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >  Open Letter to US Department of Commerce
> >    National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA)
> >
> > *20 January 2010:*   DotConnectAfrica has sent an open letter to the
> > NTIA making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD
> >
> > *"DCA wants to appraise NTIA of our view that the current process
> > developed by ICANN for new gTLDs is fair and transparent and that due
> > consideration has been given for the protection of trademark
> > interests.  We believe further delay of the new gTLD process will
> > directly /or indirectly have a damaging effect on the benefits from
> > Internet-based business and economic activities in the continent and
> > the communities involved"  DCA said i**n its letter to NTIA. *
> >
> >
> > The letter to Washington included the recent public statement made by
> > DCA to the ICANN public forum in Cartegena Colombia. *ICANN
> > Statement*: http://prlog.org/11150099
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1104224678384&s=1374&e=001ZC4vCfFE86ZeXl5o_7pYelDHXJ5G2ZpWWQ3EsamQ5qn4kKUppzUNPbecDY4_AbuU_FbgV5HezDW_YSnKigS4Wj74Wfmv0JF-C_9Q7iJBv3OU7TxXUWnjgA==
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > DCA has also spent much of its activities in the  month of September
> > 2010 lobbying in Washington for the same. *DCA Goes to Washington**:*
> > http://prlog.org/10971626
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1104224678384&s=1374&e=001ZC4vCfFE86Y1RNoReTRirZehSBqYP5gfhnlasv58eH5HthxhBE0vRgkaej2DVse8oeUeQgirSUX1Oo3rY_UltQurSWN-2YxxQ-6VEzKdDoZBHWDdAhEZrg==
> >
> >
> >
> > *Dept Of Commerce, Original letter*
> >
> >
> > A Preliminary Case for .Africa gTLD - Open Letter to NTIA, US
> > Department of Commerce by DoConnectAfrica
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1104224678384&s=1374&e=001ZC4vCfFE86bjhJedkXWuTjm9U-LLKajFU58nqswZI18bOw0qsxx3fjdKTlxVpZOKN0ulAWtJQhoIAar6QCUoh8t2OWJTGueoRWAdmCrwO0kNC3INfwL7mYKmMvCFpvsK33o4BFmETwes_s9cfkMlH5ahlfeGW_kAE65sZlXK0R_648xJ9fImpEOgcIt5eBGlDxRe0mVFPVyEw0S-Yh9nEBmiBSc5Qb2h7Insmp4UlZhFspUVogB0DC3Zl_bSXJHj4irzqclR33g=
> >
> >
> > *Full Press release*: http://prlog.org/11222383
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1104224678384&s=1374&e=001ZC4vCfFE86aIWdzpSPzhG_vJl982pXIUXdPapy9MlmpNBiH7ca_L1n9U2xn6RkE5g4GWJQ8lOBTmmbGHclSd01rYg7KcAM0ONj4uS4rJBXPufsOQGVO3rQ==
> >
> >
> >
> > *.BizCommunity *covers DCA's*"yes2dotafrica"* campaign*: "*Dot Africa
> >
> > campaign to brand continent"
> > https://www.bizcommunity.co.za/Article/414/16/52038.html
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1103982040442&s=0&e=001K5Voxyz2gdQtE38K8YnRJx5bh8FbmLqw1pASDC26uiHWJnichnQwTxeZSBw_DBbTGoUShUWhzVshGOEQG8CWHiJkuBKZmAmW7XnPN_eG_dfE44TQPveOujAQKRYRWixoitC4lZ_qW7qnJDxMInb9RiWtMWjRDFRZSdKWeeVoUHc=
> >
> > *
> > .  Radio Netherlands Worldwide: *A Dotafrica Generation soon to be
> >
> > born:
> > http://www.rnw.nl/africa/article/a-dotafrica-generation-soon-be-born
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&t=qp7womeab.0.ipbwtieab.wkvqrzcab.1374&ts=S0586&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rnw.nl%2Fafrica%2Farticle%2Fa-dotafrica-generation-soon-be-born
> >
> >
> >
> > *. *Sophia Bekele noted by*The Economist, *Sept 15, 2010, as "leading
> > the dotafrica initiative": Can "Africa" get a make-over?
> > http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2010/09/rebranding_africa
> > <
> http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=wkvqrzcab&et=1103982040442&s=0&e=001K5Voxyz2gdQtE38K8YnRJx5bh8FbmLqw1pASDC26uiHWJnichnQwTxeZSBw_DBbTkF_H0auy1HuuP9Gx-YrUDLs6o0XTAVHfiaZZv-lYKGkEB4sL6ThQVWM1hIrvbijUUghvSL-YWo5_VDWoQh22FT_4qefhR3lEgiDBEHIS2wkfZU4Bqmkuqg==
> >
> >
> >
> > . DCA is endorsed by *African Union* *(AU)* & the *Economic Commission
> > for Africa**(ECA)*
> >
> > *About DotConnectAfrica:
> >
> > *DCA is a not-for-profit, non-partisan org incorporated in Mauritius
> > Africa & will sponsor, establish & operate a TLD registry with global
> > recognition & regional significance dedicated to the needs of
> > Pan-African &African community. DCA Reg.ID.CT8710DCA90
> >
> >
> > --
> > - Evan
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > Andrew A. Mack
> > Principal
> > AMGlobal Consulting
> >
> > +1-202-642-6429  amack@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > 2001 Massachusetts Avenue, NW  First Floor
> > Washington, DC 20036
> > www.amglobal.com
> >
> >
>
>
>


-- 
Evan Leibovitch, Toronto Canada
Em: evanl at telly dot org
Sk: evanleibovitch
Tw: el56