WSIS C2C / CàC SMSI : Internet Governance: High stakes at Wsis 2

By now most observers know that Wsis 2 (Nov. 16 - 18, officially) will address Internet Governance. The issue was sent to a ommittee at Wsis 1 in Geneva, which reported on various options, but did not reach agreement (See UN report of the working group on internet governance on this web site or in google).
The US last June stated that it would not give up control of the Internet and would continue to leave Icann in charge (the current administrative body). In September, the European Union said the time had come for the US to allow multilateral governance of the Internet, but it did not make clear what route should be taken, as the EU and US agree that the private sector should run the Internet, not governments, and not international supra government bodies (like ITU).
Canada supported the US position in September.

Now the bargaining is underway in Tunis.
Canada seems to be trying to regain honest broker status.
Here is a note from the Civil Society governance list today (Nov. 13):

" the group led by Canada to discuss "common points to move forward", involving most key countries
except the EU, is meeting at 5pm in room "Dogdy" (or something like
that). The IG Caucus is presently meeting, but some of us should go
there - we've been invited." [ this means that the meeting is open to accredited reps from civil society.]

Here is my reply to this note:
=======================================================
Thanks for this.
Please report back to the list on the results of this meeting (when you have time).

Many of us have organized coverage, links and national events in our own CS community spaces online and offline. Some of us have endorsed the Citizens Summit (citizens-summit.org), and also intend to follow developments in Tunis closely, and to communicate to our alliance of netizens, here in Canada.

Canada may soon have an election, so we have another reason for watching closely to see what stands our government takes. Representation cuts both ways; many civil society members vote, have some modest influence, and care strongly about Internet Governance and even more strongly about Canada's willingness to speak independently of the US (as we did with Iraq).

Comments welcome

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IG Civil society fallback position

by Wsis NetiZen on 2005, Novembre 15 - 11:16am

Nov. 15 -- while we can still comment
around the edges on this last day of negotiations, our main focus
should be on making sure the civil society, and other stakeholders,
are include from day 0. that is now.
[from CS plenary list]

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working group on Internet g

by Wsis NetiZen on 2005, Novembre 13 - 11:42pm

working group on Internet governance
Sunday, 11:10 pm Tunis time,
From James Love, CPTech / www.cptech.org / mailto:james.love @ cptech.org /
Here are the 10 consensus points the WSIS working group on Internet
governance has just agreed upon. This is reported back tomorrow at 9am to subcommittee A (a sort of plenary for Internet issues).....
-----------------
1. Internet governance should respect the Geneva principles as set out
in the Geneva declaration and plan of action

2. Internet governance includes more than Internet names and
addresses, issues dealt with by ICANN, it also includes other critical
issues...(wording from WGIG report para. 12 to be considered)

3. There are many cross cutting international public policies
that are not adequately addressed with the current mechanisms which
require attention

4. Importance of maximizing the participation of developing
countries for development

5. Countries' legitimate interests regarding decisions affecting
their ccTLDs

6. Importance of the stability and security of the Internet

7. Finding solutions to issues arising from the use and misuse of
the Internet of particular concern to everyday users

8. Any Internet governance approach should continue to promote an
enabling environment for innovation, competition and investment

9. Agreement to creation of a forum (function) [pending
conclusion of discussions on Internet governance and determination of
its mandate] (based in multistakeholder participation)

10. the need for governments, on an equal footing, to be able to carry
out their roles and responsibilities in international public policy
issues pertaining to the Internet, but not in the day-to-day technical
operation or arrangements

[ This seems quite vague at this late date? - DrJ]

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