IAC Report 23/03/01

Report of Chairman of International Affairs Committee

1. It was a pleasure to have the support of so many New Zealanders at the Melbourne meeting. As a result, this report can be briefer than that which followed Yokohama.

2. I chaired the country code constituency meeting for two days.  This was well attended and I attach a copy of the participants' list.

3. The significant outcomes of that were:

• There appears to be a clear split developing between those who wish to fund ICANN to do outreach, and those who see it as a technical co-ordination body.
• A final version of the "best practices" document was approved.
• Significant progress was made with the contract and a substantial communiqué was released.

4. More importantly, perhaps, was the change in attitude towards the ccTLD constituency by ICANN Board and staff. The meetings opened with a substantial attendance from Board members and staff, and staff members were readily available for further meetings as the week wore on.

5. Members of the Adcom were invited to a private dinner with the Executive Committee of the Board.

6. In addition, I chaired a one day session of the Asia Pacific top level domain association, the most productive portion being a contract seminar, again attended by ICANN staff.

7. The concept of a ccTLD Inc, incoporated separately outside ICANN, which then contracts to form ICANN support organisation is gathering strength. In particular, Andrew McLaughlan, the ICANN staff member charged with resolving the ccTLD contract problem, has agreed that a support organisation is the appropriate structure for dealing with cc issues.

8. I attach some of the more important documents from the meeting.

Peter Dengate Thrush
Chairman
ISOCNZ

© 2001The Internet Society of New Zealand
Last updated 23 March 2001