Proposal on International Affairs Review 14/12/02

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Proposal on International Affairs Review

Status: Received at Council Meeting 021214

4 December 2002

InternetNZ Council

Background

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the NZOC include reference to International issues. One of the purposes of the NZOC listed in the TOR is "International issues and development as they affect .nz domain name space"and authority is given to the NZOC to take decisions on "approving participation at international meetings and selecting the participants at these". As a result of that authority the budget for International Affairs was placed in the DNC budget and overall management of that budget given to NZOC.

At the August 2002 meeting of the NZOC it was agreed that the focus of the DNC and NZOC for this financial year should be the implementation of the SRS. Accordingly a recommendation was put forward that the International Affairs budget and responsibility should be delegated back to the InternetNZ Council for the 2002/2003 financial year. Council supported this recommendation and responsibility for the budget and approval of international travel was allocated back to Council.

During discussions on the placement of the international budget, it became apparent that there was still some confusion about the role of the NZOC in respect of international matters. As part of agreeing the TOR for the NZOC, Council had agreed to the responsibility for international going across but the TOR also make it clear that "InternetNZ retains decision making on Changes to the .nz position on international issues/at international fora". This is a totally reasonable position as the overall high-level strategy should be the responsibility of Council.

The point has also been raised that there is more to InternetNZ's international work than matters concerning .nz. For example, there are technical matters such as IPv6 and more high level political matters such as NZ's position in respect of ICANN reform. Though a lot of the international work is linked to the NZOC role as managing the .nz space, there are wider topics that indicate more thinking should be given to the international strategy and the management of international matters within InternetNZ.

Proposal

It is in the interests of the NZOC to clearly identify its role and responsibilities in respect of international matters prior to this area coming back to this committee from April 2003. NZOC, at their meeting on 25 November, discussed the area of international and agreed that a formal proposal should be put to Council for approval. Also part of that discussion were Sue Leader and Peter Dengate-Thrush.

The review could consider:

• how does the overall international strategy get set
• InternetNZ's involvement in various international fora
• what groups or committees within InternetNZ should have an input into international affairs
• what is the role of the various groups involved in international matters
• where does the budget for international reside and who has responsibility for it
• who approves attendance at international meetings and selects who will attend

Currently both the International Affairs Committee and the NZOC are identified as having a role in international matters. However, there is also a requirement for the Technical Committee and the NZRS to be involved internationally where the subject matter relates to their areas of operations. The work in all these areas needs to be integrated to ensure InternetNZ derives the best value from the time and resources it puts into the international work.

A thorough review of international matters will allow an opportunity for a strategic, integrated look to be taken. Any review will need to include sufficient representatives for all relevant parties to have input. NZOC would propose that the review team consist of the following:

• Chair, or Nominee, NZOC - who would chair the review group
• President, or Nominee, InternetNZ
• Chair, or Nominee, International Affairs
• Chair, or Nominee, Technical Committee
• Chair, or Nominee, Legal and Regulatory
• Chair, or Nominee, NZRS
• Executive Director
• DNC

Any other relevant people identified should also be part of the review. NZOC would propose that Roger Hicks, Sue Leader, David Farrar and Jennifer Northover be on the review team, plus any other persons identified by the InternetNZ Council.

There will also be wide consultation with InternetNZ members and other relevant stakeholders.

NZOC anticipate a draft report being completed by 31 March 2003, and would recommend that this subject also be placed on the agenda for the Summit meeting that is being planned for early next year.

Recommendations

It is recommended that you:

Frank March
Chair,
NZOC