[ALAC] At-Large Engagement in RIR Policy Development - Issue Raised in Board Meeting with NRO/ASO today

[Rinalia Abdul Rahim]

ALAC and RALO Chairs,

This morning the Board had a meeting with the NRO/ASO.  The importance of
At-Large community engagement in the policy development process of the
Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) was raised and discussed.

Context: ICANN's remit covers Names and Numbers.  The policy development
process for Names takes place at ICANN while the policy development process
for Numbers takes places place at the RIRs.  It is important to have end
user engagement in both.

The existence of RALO-RIR MOUs is noted, but concrete engagement needs to
follow-through.

Issues raised:
1. Co-location of face-to-face meetings (i.e., RALO meeting in conjunction
with RIR meeting) and need for ICANN funding to supplement RIR Fellowship
funding.
2. Pre-meeting orientation program for ALSes to help them understand the
structure and processes of the RIR before participating in the RIR meeting
(face-to-face or remotely)
3. Focused participation in the Policy Development Track at RIR meetings  +
remote participation for those that cannot be on site
4. Participation in RIR Policy Development mailing-list (substance of RIR
policy development is discussed via mailing-lists)
- suggestion: RIR notification/alerts on Policy Development to be sent to
RALO mailing lists so ALSes can prepare for engagement.

My suggestion on follow-up: Leverage on the momentum created by the board's
discussion with the NRO
- RALO Chairs can follow-up with RIR Chairs respectively
- RALO Chairs can discuss within RALOs on whether groups need to be formed
to focus on numbers policy among ALSes
- ALAC Chair can facilitate RALO interface with ICANN on funding issue

Thanks!

Rinalia