[At-Large] Fwd: [IANA-issues] Fwd: TRANSITION - FOR US CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NCSG (Typo corrected version, with apology)

Fri Sep 9 09:58:10 UTC 2016

On one hand, I have no intention of denigrating the massive amounts of work
and end-user perspective that Olivier and the rest of our team have
contributed to the IANA transition effort.

I suspect, however, that circumstances over which none of us has control
have taken over. If the success of all this comes down to American
supporters of ICANN writing their politicians, it's already lost.

Those outside the bubble are exacting their revenge. Senator Cruz is
despised by most other members of Congress, yet here he realizes that he
has latched onto an issue in which he can find popular support, and he is
riding as far into the headlines as he can.

I can't fault Cruz for exploiting the situation, because ICANN has made
itself the easiest of targets. It has no friends outside of its own bubble
in the US or anywhere else, and has only itself to blame for the current
situation:

   - In refusing to acknowledge its role as a regulator
   - In allowing itself to be captured by the industry it is charged to
   oversee, but upon which it is now financially dependent
   - In asserting opaque processes that require legal action to inspect
   - In relegating the voice of the billions of Internet users to a
   sideline position when it should be front-and-centre
   - In resisting the participation of governments who are then expected to
   respect its outcomes

The message from Ed Morris that Olivier copies exhorts Americans to, in
their pleas to Congress, identify themselves as members of the ICANN
community.

How can that help? Congress already knows that those inside the bubble love
the process that they designed. What Congress doesn't know is what people
*outside* the bubble are thinking. Or if they even care.

At very least, ICANN should have by now come up with an education program
that explained what is proposed, and why this is a good thing, in a form
understandable by *everyone*. Perhaps there is a fear that, once explained
in simple terms, the proposed transition will actually attract more public
opposition than support. This fear is justified.

- Evan

On 9 September 2016 at 09:26, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <ocl at gih.com> wrote:

> FYI -- this issue is of importance.
>
> The ICANN community has worked for a long time on this transition. The
> ALAC has ratified the plans for transition. Now it's time for the US
> Congress to pass it through, but Acts have been proposed at US Senate and
> Congress to block it. This message is for US citizens who are part of
> At-Large to let their representative know they oppose the Acts to block the
> transition. Of course, in your initiative, identify yourself as a member of
> the At-Large Community, the end users at ICANN.
> Kindest regards,
>
> Olivier
>
>
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject: [IANA-issues] Fwd: TRANSITION - FOR US CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES
> OF THE NCSG (Typo corrected version, with apology)
> Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2016 06:37:53 +0100
> From: Seun Ojedeji <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com> <seun.ojedeji at gmail.com>
> To: iana-issues at atlarge-lists.icann.org
>
> Saw this on the NCSG list and thought might be relevant info here as well.
> US citizens here may also want to do the needful.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Sent from my LG G4
> Kindly excuse brevity and typos
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "Edward Morris" <egmorris1 at toast.net>
> Date: 9 Sep 2016 2:15 a.m.
> Subject: TRANSITION - FOR US CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NCSG (Typo
> corrected version, with apology)
> To: <NCSG-DISCUSS at listserv.syr.edu>
> Cc:
>
> Hello everybody,
>
> Next week is a crucial time in the life of the transition. The
> administration needs to notify Congress by September 15th of it's intention
> to proceed. Although a high priority issue for a few Congressmen in the so
> called House Freedom Caucus, the transition is something that has really
> flown under the radar for most Senators and Representatives.
>
> I'd like to tell everyone in the NCSG that the United States Congress
> cares about what you think. It does not. Individual Congresspersons,
> though, do care what their constituents think - that's where we need your
> help.   American members of the NCSG, both institutions and individuals,
> it's time to let your elected representatives know what you think of the
> transition. The best way to do this is to call Washington and tell your
> Senator, Representative or their staff person what you want them to
> do regarding the elimination of US government stewardship of the internet
> through the IANA contract.
>
> Please today please call your Senator or Representative,  or preferably
> both, today and tell them that:
>
>
> 1. You, or your organisation, are active members of the ICANN community
> representing noncommercial users,
>
> 2. You support the transition of the internet from the US government to
> the multi-stakeholder community (if you do),
>
> 3. (For Senators) You oppose S3034, the mis-named Protecting Internet
> Freedom Act, or
>
> 4. (For Representatives) You oppose HR 5329, the Securing America's
> Internet Domains Act of 2016,
>
>
> You can reach your Senator or Representative through the Capitol
> switchboard at 202-224-3121.
>
>
> If you do not know your representative you can obtain his or her identity
> here:
> http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
> Expat Americans should contact the Senator and Representative of the
> district where you currently cast your remote  ballot in elections (or
> where you last resided, if you do not currently vote in the United States).
>
> In addition, please call the Secretary of the Department of Congress Penny
> Pritzker at 202-482-2112 and: 1. Identify yourself, your affiliation and
> that you are an active member of the ICANN community representing
> noncommercial users and that 2. you support the transition (if you do)
>  and expect the Department of Commerce  to proceed as scheduled at the end
> of this month and not extend the current IANA contract or propose a new one.
>
> The time to talk is over: Americans. If you want he transition to occur
> the time to act is *today. Not Monday, today. *The way to act is by
> calling, not writing. The impact is much greater.
>
> Thank you for your consideration.
>
> Best,
>
> Ed Morris
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
Evan Leibovitch
Geneva, CH

Em: evan at telly dot org
Sk: evanleibovitch
Tw: el56
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