ISPC Outreach Strategic Plan

INTRODUCTION

Overview

Internet Service Providers and Connectivity Providers (ISPCP) operate Internet backbone networks and/or provide access to Internet and related services to End Users. They are key players of the Internet and have an essential role in its stability and development. As a consequence, the ISPCP as a Constituency contributes toward fulfilling the aims and goals of ICANN. Since the creation of ICANN, these actors have continuously contributed their specific and unique expertise to the organization and multi-stakeholder community.

Mission

The ISPCP seeks to ensure the views and opinions of ISPs and Connectivity Providers across the globe are actively aware of and contribute toward fulfilling the aims and goals of ICANN as an organization.

Among the numerous topics where the ISPCP expresses the views of their community, one could mention:

●    Whois policies,

●    New gTLDs and their impact on the network,

●    IP addressing,

●    Institutional evolution of ICANN, notably the Affirmation of Commitments

Role within ICANN

Within ICANN, the ISPs and Connectivity Providers Constituency forms an integral part of the Generic Name Supporting Organization (GNSO) assigned, according to ICANN Bylaws, Article XX, Section 5, as a representative member of the Commercial Stakeholders Group (CSG) in the Non-Contracted Parties House. However, the role of the ISPCP Constituency goes beyond this GNSO participation: it takes an active part in many Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, Task Forces,  and Working Groups within ICANN’s diverse structure.

To summarize, the Constituency ensures that the views of Internet Service Providers and Connectivity Providers contribute toward fulfilling the aims and goals of ICANN. The ISPCP actively participates in the work of ICANN to ensure that policy development guarantees and enhances the operational stability of the Internet and the needs and interests of ISP and connectivity providers. The Constituency also cares about safeguarding the interests and concerns of the ISP and connectivity industry. The Constituency fulfills its roles and responsibilities while adhering to the relevant ICANN bylaws and Operating Procedures.

OUTREACH STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES

The enclosed FY17 Outreach Strategy is premised on fulfilling the ISPCP mission as contained in its Charter and Bylaws.  Through the ISPCP’s participation in CROPP, the Fellowship program, and other opportunities as presented, the Constituency aims to further its outreach within the multistakeholder community and beyond.

Governance Framework

ISPCP Outreach strategy is administered by the ISPCP Outreach Committee with the support of its Executive Committee, the ISPCP Secretariat, and ICANN staff. Events and travel support requests are considered and approved by the Outreach Committee. Report outs of activities are provided to the ISPCP membership at large and are often published in the Constituency Newsletter before the annual ICANN AGM in October.

Objectives

The following outreach objectives seek to fulfill the ISPCP’s mission and outreach strategy:

1. To create awareness about the ISPCP, how it works and ICANN, particularly in low membership regions and industry sectors,

2. To realise this mission by growing the ISPCP membership base thereby enriching its long term policy development efforts and at the same time addressing volunteer burn-out phenomenon,

3. To advance the bottom-up multi-stakeholder model of ICANN by creating meaningful opportunities for input from a broad cross section of businesses.

Implementation Strategy

To achieve the objectives, the ISPCP is implementing its Outreach Strategy in relation to ICANN FY17-18 support and based on its established Outreach funding criteria.

The ISPCP appreciates the opportunity to participate in several of the ICANN outreach programs such as CROPP, Business Engagement, and the Fellowship programs, which has helped generate interest in the ISPCP and provided the Constituency with new members.

With this in mind, the ISPCP plans to seek, organize, and participate in various Outreach opportunities over the next year via the following planned activities:

Presentations

●    Present information about ICANN at the ISP and NOG related events around the globe, particularly in low membership regions. In 2016 alone, the ISPCP participated in various regional activities (in addition to the ICANN Public Meetings) within the regions of Latin America, Africa, and North America.  The ISPCP anticipates increasing outreach activities in 2017.

Events

●    Hold special events to inform the business community about ICANN and the ISPCP.

○    To this end, the ISPCP is hosting an outreach event with ICANN’s Business Stakeholder Engagement team during the ICANN57 meeting in Hyderabad, to engage local and regional ISPs.  Approximately one hundred participants are expected to attend. Additional outreach activities at events such as LACNIC, AFRINIC, and SXSW Interactive are being planned for FY17.

CROPP Participation & Travel Support

●    Via CROPP, request travel support for ISPCP members to attend relevant activities through participation in CROPP.

○    The ISPCP appreciates the flexibility to either seek four (4) travel slots for FY17 or an outreach event and two (2) travel slots.

●    Provide financial support for ISPCP members to attend outreach and recruitment events on behalf of the ISPCP that they would not otherwise attend

Mentorship

●    Provide mentorship and informal support to ISP representatives attending ICANN or ISPCP meetings for the first time.

Expected Outcomes

Through Outreach efforts, including the abovementioned activities, the ISPCP expects to

●    Reach an in-person audience of some 500 potential members through attendance/speaking at various conferences.

●    Attract 12 new members by the end of FY2017.

●    Distribute more than 1000 ISPCP newsletters and business cards.

○    A new ISPCP Newsletter was developed for ICANN57 in collaboration with ISPCP Constituency and ICANN staff.

■    Two articles within the ISPCP’s ICANN57 newsletter were devoted to Outreach events participated in through CROPP in the Latin America and Africa regions.   

■    Three new members who were recruited from Outreach events were highlighted in the Newsletter.

■    All newsletters are posted on the newly designed ISPCP website for easy access.

●    Attract close to 2000 webpage views through leads from news channels across the world.

CONCLUSION

The ISPCP values the continued opportunity to collaborate with ICANN for outreach events and opportunities. The Constituency looks forward to a continued partnership in FY17.