[lac-discuss-en] Draft ICANN 2010-2013 Strategic Plan

[Dev Anand Teelucksingh]

There are four areas of focus in the draft ICANN strategic plan :

1. Preserve DNS stability and security
2. Promote competition, trust, choice and innovation
3. Excel in IANA and other core operations
4. Contribute to shaping a healthy Internet eco-system

Since time is of the essence, here are some first initial ideas  :

1. Preserve DNS stability and security

The concept of a DNS collaborative security response system is a good
one and should be pursued. Implementation of such a system should
provide timely information for both technical users and non-technical
users about DNS related security issues and solutions and/or
workarounds, similiar to CERT websites (e.g http://www.us-cert.gov/)

2. Promote competition, trust, choice and innovation
The introduction of IDNs, new gTLDs and the deployment of IPv6 are
important strategic objectives.

3. Excel in IANA and other core operations.
ICANN proposed strategy in improving IANA and core operations is commendable.

4. Contribute to shaping a healthy Internet eco-system

Improving the accessibility and dissemination of documentation
generated by the work of  ICANN and its' stakeholder groups should be
a key strategic objective. It is still difficult for end users,
especially those not familiar with ICANN and not having the benefit of
attending any of the public ICANN meetings to understand ICANN, its
supporting organisations, and the policy issues.

Audio and video from the three public meetings should be better
recorded and made available for download. Having such material
available to At-Large will make it easier for such ALSes to study and
redistribute such material since not all internet users have broadband
to view it directly from ICANN's site.

To ensure "that the views of all stakeholders are heard on Internet
related issues", it is important for ICANN to support At-Large and the
RALOs and its efforts to get new ALSes,especially from countries
without any At-Large presence.
Only 13 out of 33 countries in the LAC region has ALSes for example.
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r82Z8wLg9K4sGy8OPjLdofw&gid=8

While ICANN and IANA talks of the local internet community as it
relates to ccTLD issues
(http://blog.icann.org/2009/09/local-internet-communities/), the
stakeholders in such internet communities in many LAC countries are
not aware of each other. Whenever ICANN is attending/supporting or
giving a presentation at an event in a country, it should make
attendees aware of the local stakeholders such as At-Large that are
involved with ICANN policy work and/or attempt to ensure that such
stakeholders are are present at such events. This will better
strengthen local internet communities.