<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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:</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><ul><li>In refusing to acknowledge its role as a regulator<br></li><li>In allowing itself to be captured by the industry it is charged to oversee, but upon which it is now financially dependent<br></li><li>In asserting opaque processes that require legal action to inspect</li><li>In relegating the voice of the billions of Internet users to a sideline position when it should be front-and-centre</li><li>In resisting the participation of governments who are then expected to respect its outcomes</li></ul></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">The message from Ed Morris that Olivier copies exhorts Americans to, in their pleas to Congress, identify themselves as members of the ICANN community.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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 <b>outside</b> the bubble are thinking. Or if they even care.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">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 <b>everyone</b>. 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.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)">- Evan</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;color:rgb(11,83,148)"><br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 9 September 2016 at 09:26, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ocl@gih.com" target="_blank">ocl@gih.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
FYI -- this issue is of importance. <br>
<br>
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.<br>
Kindest regards,<br>
<br>
Olivier<br>
<div><br>
<br>
-------- Forwarded Message --------
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">Subject:
</th>
<td>[IANA-issues] Fwd: TRANSITION - FOR US CITIZEN
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NCSG (Typo corrected version, with
apology)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Fri, 9 Sep 2016 06:37:53 +0100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Seun Ojedeji <a href="mailto:seun.ojedeji@gmail.com" target="_blank"><seun.ojedeji@gmail.com></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a href="mailto:iana-issues@atlarge-lists.icann.org" target="_blank">iana-issues@atlarge-lists.<wbr>icann.org</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<p dir="ltr">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.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Cheers!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sent from my LG G4<br>
Kindly excuse brevity and typos</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>
From: "Edward Morris" <<a href="mailto:egmorris1@toast.net" target="_blank">egmorris1@toast.net</a>><br>
Date: 9 Sep 2016 2:15 a.m.<br>
Subject: TRANSITION - FOR US CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NCSG
(Typo corrected version, with apology)<br>
To: <<a href="mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@listserv.syr.edu" target="_blank">NCSG-DISCUSS@listserv.syr.edu</a><wbr>><br>
Cc: <br>
<br type="attribution">
<span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif;font-size:12px">
<div>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Hello
everybody,</span></span></h2>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="arial,
helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">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.</span></font></h2>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">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.</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </h2>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">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.</span></span></h2>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Please
today please call your Senator or Representative, or
preferably both, today </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">and
tell them that:</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">1. You,
or your organisation, are active members of the ICANN
community representing noncommercial users,</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">2. You
support the transition of the internet from the US
government to the multi-stakeholder community (if you
do),</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">3. (For
Senators) You oppose S3034, the mis-named Protecting
Internet Freedom Act, or</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">4. (For
Representatives) You oppose HR 5329, the Securing
America's Internet Domains Act of 2016,</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">You can
reach your Senator or Representative through the
Capitol switchboard at <a href="tel:202-224-3121" value="+12022243121" target="_blank">202-224-3121</a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">If you
do not know your representative you can obtain his or
her identity here: </span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/" target="_blank">http://www.house.gov/represent<wbr>atives/find/</a></span></span></div>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="arial,
helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">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).</span></font></h2>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">In addition, please call the
Secretary of the Department of Congress Penny Pritzker
at <span><a href="tel:202-482-2112" value="+12024822112" target="_blank">202-482-2112</a></span> and:</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">1. Identify yourself, your
affiliation and that you are an active member of the
ICANN community representing noncommercial users and
that</span></span></h2>
<h2 style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="arial,
helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">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.</span></font></h2>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">The time to talk is
over: Americans. If you want he transition to occur
the time to act is <strong>today. Not Monday, today. </strong>The
way to act is by calling, not writing. The impact is
much greater.</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Thank you for your
consideration.</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Best,</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Ed Morris</span></span></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"> </div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>______________________________<wbr>_________________<br>
At-Large mailing list<br>
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<br>
At-Large Official Site: <a href="http://atlarge.icann.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://atlarge.icann.org</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:left">Evan Leibovitch</div><div style="text-align:left">Geneva, CH</div></div><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:left">Em: evan at telly dot org</div></div><div style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:left">Sk: evanleibovitch</div></div><div style="text-align:center"><div style="text-align:left">Tw: el56</div></div></blockquote></div></div></div>
</div>