IAC Report - 28 April 2006

International Affairs Committee
Report to Council for 28 April 2006

The Committee last met at InternetNZs offices in Wellington on Thursday 20 April, and wishes to bring the following matters to Councils attention. Recommendations follow at the end of this report.

Joining AP RALO

Following discussion at the meeting it was agreed to recommend to Council that InternetNZ become involved in the Asia Pacific RALO organisation. There are no perceived risks to InternetNZ from doing so, and there are no likely conflicts between this involvement on behalf of gTLD registrants, and our more critical interests in the ccTLD side of ICANNs activities. A recommendation follows.

ICANN Accountability Framework

NZOC will be leading InternetNZ discussion on whether to enter into discussions with ICANN on an Accountability Framework. NZOC will consider how to progress this at its strategy session at the end of May, and report back to Council on how to progress the discussion after that. The ED will write to ICANN advising on what basis InternetNZ would consider entering into discussions on an Accountability Framework.

Attendance at ICANN Morocco

It appears that the next APTLD meeting will be on 21-22 June 2006, just before the ICANN meeting. If this is confirmed then the DNCs budget provides for three people to attend ICANN. The Committee agreed that Keith Davidson and Colin Jackson should attend, with NZOC reserving the right to determine who the third person should be.

Internet Governance Forum

Keith Davidson was nominated to take part in the IGF Advisory Group by InternetNZ and by other organisations including the ccNSO and CBBI. When a decision on members is announced Council will be advised.

Preparatory meetings are being held at Geneva in May, which may substantially affect the final form and usefulness of the Forum. It was agreed that Keiths presence would add real value to those discussions, but that information on what other like-minded people will be present should be sought by the Committee before any recommendation to send Keith (with the concomitant budget implications) was made. A recommendation to Council may be forthcoming shortly.

Other issues discussed

• A consolidated report on ICANN Wellington from those who attended will be presented to the June Council meeting. All individual reports are due with staff by 5 May 2006.
• A debrief on the policy issues covered at ICANN.
• The Committee congratulated Keith and his team for a very successful ICANN Conference.

Recommendations

1)      THAT InternetNZ apply to be recognised as an at-large structure by ICANN, so it can join the Asia Pacific Regional At Large Organisation which is in the process of forming.

2)      THAT Alistair Dixon be coopted as a member of the International Affairs Committee through to the 2006 AGM.

3)      THAT the report of the International Affairs Committee be received.