At-Large Workspace: At-Large Community Response to the At-Large Review Draft Report

As Two way conduit

Aim – more active, knowledgeable contributor

Ability to Participate

Individual Membership

Implementation # 1: Adopt the Empowered Membership Model (EMM) as proposed to bring a

greater number of end users directly into ICANN policy making processes, and or engaged in At-Large outreach activities

Implementation # 5: Any individual from any region should be allowed to become an “At-Large

Member” (ALM). The ALM is what the Empowered Membership Model identifies as the atomic

element of the new At-Large model

Openness of policy processes

Comments in the Review that policy processes not open to individuals

Difficulty in participating in processes 

Implementation # 2: Engage more end users directly in ICANN Working Groups by adopting the Empowered Membership Model described in this document

Implementation # 3: Adopt the Empowered Membership Model described in this document to

engage more end users directly in ICANN work

Recommendation # 3:

At-Large should encourage greater direct participation by At-Large members in ICANN WGs by

adopting our proposed Empowered Membership Model.

Structure with ALT, ALAC, RALOs/ALSs

Adopt EMM Model – elements as follows:

(see chart in 11.3 of the Review)

Membership open to all internet users – become ALMs thru contacting RALOS

Eligible ALMs can vote for RALO rep on ALAC

ALAC composed of 2 directly elected members from each region & 5 NomCom reps – 1 from each region

Role of ALAC and RALOs merged: Role of ALAC – provide advice to Board based on feedback from Rapporterus/liaisons/ALMs

RALOS – 2 way function     -outreach – top down, andd  channeling end user input – top up. Also organizing regional mtgs

Role of ALT, ALAC, RALOs, ALSs

Implementation # 6: Adopt the Empowered Membership Model which changes the function of RALOs so that they are primarily an outreach and mentoring mechanism for engaging new entrants

Implementation # 7: As part of the Empowered Membership Model, elected RALO representatives become ALAC Members who not only deliberate on advice to the Board but

also serve as mentors to At-Large newcomers.

Role of ALAC WGs

Recommendation # 7:

At-Large should abandon existing internal Working Groups and discourage their creation in the

future, as they are a distraction from the actual policy advice role of At-Large.

Breadth of people in leadership/participants

Leadership team a ‘small group’ and need for renewal/term rotation etc

Creation of ‘Rapporteurs’

From EMM Model – idea to come from a member who has actively participated in a WG – limited term – with funding to attend 3 ICANN meetings

Create Council of Elders

Creation of 6 ‘Elders’ experienced but exceeded term limits

Current Criteria for ALS Membership

Too stringent – implicit in EMM model and stated in report

General/Regional Assemblies

Recommendation # 11:

At-Large should replace 5-yearly global ATLAS meetings with an alternative model of annual

regional At-Large Meetings.

Working with NCUC/NPOC

Implementation # 4: In the Empowered Membership Model individual users will be encouraged to participate in At-Large. Within this context there should be scope for further cooperation with the NCSG

Terms of office holders/members

Implementation # 8: The ALAC Members should have a maximum of (2) terms, each of a 2-year duration.

ALAC/ALT processes

Recommendation # 2:

At-Large should be more judicious in selecting the amount of advice it seeks to offer, focusing upon quality rather than quantity.

Recommendation # 6:

Selection of seat 15 on ICANN Board of Directors. Simplify the selection of the At-Large Director. Candidates with experience in At-Large would self-nominate. The NomCom then vets

nominees to produce a slate of qualified candidates from which the successful candidate is chosen by random selection.

Accountability/transparency

Recommendation # 16:

Adopt a set of metrics that are consistent for the entire At-Large Community to measure the

implementation and impact of the EMM and track the continuous improvement of the At-Large

Community.

Participation in Internet governance fora

Recommendation # 1:

At-Large Members from each region should be encouraged, and where possible funded, to participate in Internet governance / policy-related conferences/events (IGF, RIR ISOC) in their region, and to use these events as opportunities proactively to raise awareness among end users about the At-Large and the opportunities through them to engage in ICANN-related activities.

Recommendation # 5:

At-Large should redouble efforts to contribute to meetings between ICANN Senior Staff and Executives, ISOC (and other international organisations) to engage in joint strategic planning

for cooperative outreach.

Recommendation # 12:

As part of its strategy for regional outreach and engagement, the At-Large Community should continue to put a high priority on the organisation of external regional events. The five RALOs should continue, as part of their annual outreach strategies to partner with well-established

regional events involved in the Internet Governance ecosystem. CROPP and other funding mechanisms should be provided to support the costs of organisation and participation of At-

Large members.(see Section 5.3 on outreach)

Recommendation # 13:

Working closely with ICANN’s Regional Hubs and regional ISOC headquarters, At-Large should

reinforce its global outreach and engagement strategy with a view to encouraging the organisation of Internet Governance Schools in connection with each At-Large regional gathering which will in future take place in parallel with appropriate ICANN meetings.

More use of social media

Recommendation # 8:

At-Large should use social media much more effectively to engage with end users (e.g. via Twitter / Facebook polls, etc). These polls should not be binding in any way, but the ALAC can

use them as a gauge of end user opinion.

Recommendation # 10:

Consider the adoption and use of a Slack-like online communication platform. An instant

messaging-cum-team workspace (FOSS) alternative to replace Skype/Wiki/website/mailing list.

iCANN Staff

Report divided opinion on more involvement in policy – or not, support for research

Recommendation # 4:

At-Large Support Staff should be more actively involved in supporting ALM engagement in policy work for the ALAC, drafting position papers and other policy related work.

Recommendation # 9:

At-Large should appoint a part-time Web Community Manager position who will be responsible for inter alia for social media (Rec 8). These responsibilities could be allocated to an existing member of staff

Funding

Recommendation # 14:

In the interests of transparency, all opportunities for At-Large travel funding support should be published in one place on the At-Large webpage. A record of the beneficiaries of travel support should be published on the same page.

Implementation # 14: The proposed Empowered Membership Model (Section 11) conflates many of these roles and consequently frees up travel slots for new voices. For example the 5

RALOS are now part of the 15 ALAC Member list and 5 Liaison roles are also taken by NomCom appointed ALAC Members, leaving 2 for the Council of Elders and up to 10 slots for Rapporteurs for CCWGs and regular WGs (to be decided openly and transparently).

Recommendation # 15:

At-Large should be involved in the Cross-Community Working Group on new gTLD Auction Proceeds and initiate discussions with the ICANN Board of Directors with a view gaining access to these funds in support of the At-Large Community.

Board position

Discussion on different views on whether there should be an additional seat(s) for ALAC