At-Large Individual Membership within RALOs

Introduction

Please find below the basic information on RALO Organizing Documents.

Draft Text

Bylaw Information

The following ICANN Bylaws contain information relevant to RALO Organization.

Article XI, Section 2, Paragraph 4:

g. There shall be one RALO for each Geographic Region established according to Section 5 of Article VI. Each RALO shall serve as the main forum and coordination point for public input to ICANN in its Geographic Region and shall be a non-profit organization certified by ICANN according to criteria and standards established by the Board based on recommendations of the At-Large Advisory Committee. An organization shall become the recognized RALO for its Geographic Region upon entering a Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN addressing the respective roles and responsibilities of ICANN and the RALO regarding the process for selecting ALAC members and requirements of openness, participatory opportunities, transparency, accountability, and diversity in the RALO's structure and procedures, as well as criteria and standards for the RALO's constituent At-Large Structures.
h. Each RALO shall be comprised of self-supporting At-Large Structures within its Geographic Region that have been certified to meet the requirements of the RALO's Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN according to paragraph 4(i) of this Section. If so provided by its Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN, a RALO may also include individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the RALO's Geographic Region.

i. Membership in the At-Large Community

1. The criteria and standards for the certification of At-Large Structures within each Geographic Region shall be established by the Board based on recommendations from the ALAC and shall be stated in the Memorandum of Understanding between ICANN and the RALO for each Geographic Region.
2. The criteria and standards for the certification of At-Large Structures shall be established in such a way that participation by individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the Geographic Region (as defined in Section 5 of Article VI) of the RALO will predominate in the operation of each At-Large Structure within the RALO, while not necessarily excluding additional participation, compatible with the interests of the individual Internet users within the region, by others.
3. Each RALO's Memorandum of Understanding shall also include provisions designed to allow, to the greatest extent possible, every individual Internet user who is a citizen of a country within the RALO's Geographic Region to participate in at least one of the RALO's At-Large Structures.
4. To the extent compatible with these objectives, the criteria and standards should also afford to each RALO the type of structure that best fits the customs and character of its Geographic Region.
5. Once the criteria and standards have been established as provided in this Clause i, the ALAC, with the advice and participation of the RALO where the applicant is based, shall be responsible for certifying organizations as meeting the criteria and standards for At-Large Structure accreditation.
6. Decisions to certify or decertify an At-Large Structure shall be made as decided by the ALAC in its Rules of Procedure, save always that any changes made to the Rules of Procedure in respect of ALS applications shall be subject to review by the RALOs and by the ICANN Board.
7. Decisions as to whether to accredit, not to accredit, or disaccredit an At-Large Structure shall be subject to review according to procedures established by the Board.
8. On an ongoing basis, the ALAC may also give advice as to whether a prospective At-Large Structure meets the applicable criteria and standards.

At-Large Improvements

The ICANN ALAC Review Working Group Final Report includes the following language on the involvement of individual users

Section 3.2.2.4:

3.2.2.4. Involvement
of
individual
users
in
other
parts
of
ICANN
The
WG
believes
that
ALAC
is
the
primary
organisational
home
for
the
voice
and
concerns
of
the
individual
Internet
user,
although
individual
users
may
choose
to
participate
in
many
other
ways
in
the
ICANN
process.
The
WG
acknowledges
that
an
individual
may
have
several
perspectives
on
ICANN
issues
and
therefore
may
wish
to
participate
in
ICANN
in
several
ways.

One
individual
might
wish
to
contribute
to
ICANN
processes
as
a
business
owner
through
the
Business
Constituency,
through
the
IP
constituency
as
a
lawyer
and
as
an
individual
Internet
user,
through
the
ALAC.

It
is
important
not
to
confuse
the
possibility
for
an
individual
to
contribute
in
several
places
because
of
these
different
perspectives
with
the
need
for
the
individual’s
participation
as
an
individual
Internet
user
to
have
an
organisational
home.
The
WG
also
believes
that
there
is
a
difference
between
the
inclusion
in
the
ICANN
process
of
input
reflecting
the
concerns
of

individual
users
(for
which
the
primary
organisational
home
is
At
Large),
and
the
inclusion
of
input
from
organisations
that
operate
on
behalf
of
individuals.
Bona
fide
consumer
protection
groups
are
an
example
of
such
an
organisation.
In
the
opinion
of
the
WG,
ICANN
should
seek
to
include
in
the
ICANN
process
such
organisations
whose
mandate
is
to
protect
the
interests
of
individuals.

Such
groups
might
choose
to
be
part
of
the
At
Large
as
an
ALS.

Another
logical
place
for
including
them
might
be
as
a
constituency
or
part
of
a
constituency
within
the
GNSO.

Implementation
of
significant
GNSO
Improvements
is
now
under
way,
including
the
consideration
of
the
role
of
individual
Internet
users
in
the
GNSO,
and
those
efforts
should
be
coordinated
with
the
ALAC
leadership