[At-Large] [NA-Discuss] ALAC Draft AccountabilityFramework andConflicts of Interest Policy

[Robert Guerra]

Seeing that there's a lot of people cc'd on the message - well, I will  
keep my message concise and suggest recommendations on how to move ahead

Darlene and others raise good points regarding the great challenges  
NGOs, user groups, and ALS have to engage, consult and contribute to  
ongoing discussions @ ICANN.

Unlike the industry and government actors who paid for for their  
active involvement  @ ICANN,  ALS's and ALAC members at times find it  
a great challenge to find the required time, energy and funding to  
participate. ICANN's support is appreciated, however for it to truly  
seek and engage users - it needs to do much more.

Active engagement for civil society actors is not a top down process,  
but a bottom-up one - one that requires far more time and effort to  
seek comments,  and from there, a formulated mutually agreed to  
position.

For users - such as the internet using public - to be involved, they  
need to have the issues and ongoing policy debates translated into a  
language they can understand . Materials - such as documentation, and  
background documents would be very helpful, as would a pro-active  
press strategy that engages the popular press , radio and blogging  
community. ICANN could do a lot more in this respect.


If ICANN wishes to support and encourage users to participate in  
ongoing policy issues - then ICANN should find ways to attend, and  
participate where users are active . ICANN, in my view should expect  
not that users come to it  - but instead  reach out and be more  
present in spaces, communities, and events where user communities are  
active. Interviews and engagement of the popular media could also help  
a great deal.

Outreach and engagement is not something that can be done easily. it  
takes time, energy and effort.  Not managing expectations will lead to  
disillusionment and likely generate  negative press - something ICANN  
likely does not want.

In closing, I hope this message summarizes some of the sentiments  
expressed to-date and some constructive ideas on the type and approach  
to outreach that has been long promised - but not yet delivered.



regards

Robert Guerra
Managing Director, Privaterra
ALAC , North America Rep