[thelist] Jumbo tip + massive FW :: Icann board nominees analyzis

deboute benjamin deboute at nerdsoul.com
Wed Aug 9 04:29:20 CDT 2000


Beware, the FW is fairly massive, but very interesting.
I apologize to those who don't feel concerned by this mail.

<tip type="php+js" author="deboute benjamin">
the massive problem with SQL data update or insertion ( or whatever 
server-side data manipulation ) is that it requires a trip to the server 
that sends back some data.
The usual data ( HTTP header ) loads a page in the users browser.

ok ?

Well.

On some webapps, you might want some server-side stuff to be updated 
without a page being (re-)loaded.
--
i.e. :: complex customer support management.
We gather newsgroups, mails, webforums and output messages without critic 
data to dedicaced mailing lists, newsgroups and webforums. So we needed a 
'public/confidential' checkbox in the message treatment webapp that updates 
a 'public' field in a SQL row.
--
Welcoooome to the magnificient power of HTTP 204 !
i.e. ::
html form ->
<input type="checkbox" onClick="document.location.href='php.script'">
php script ->
<?
header("$SERVER_PROTOCOL 204");
SQL manipulation
?>

Explication ::
when you click the checkbox, the script is requested.
the first line ( 'header("$SERVER_PROTOCOL 204");' ) sends a 204 to the 
browser that tells him :: "ok dude, i got your request, but forget it, 
there's nothing good for you in this page".
The browser stops then waiting for the page it requested and loads NOTHING.
On the server-side, the script IS processed.

Result ::
a server script executed, a client that stands still.


Enjoy. It's magick.
</tip>

From: Dave Farber <farber at cis.upenn.edu>
Subject: IP: CYBER-FEDERALIST No.4:  An Analysis of ICANN-Named Board
   Nominees
Sender: owner-ip-sub-1 at admin.listbox.com
Reply-To: farber at cis.upenn.edu
From: Hans Klein <hklein at cpsr.org>


       CYBER-FEDERALIST       No. 4        August 8, 2000

          AN ANALYSIS OF THE ICANN-NAMED BOARD NOMINEES

    Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
          http://www.cpsr.org/internetdemocracy
               Internet Democracy Project
          http://www.internetdemocracyproject.org/
   ********************************************************


The ICANN Nominating Committee recently announced its nominees for the At
Large elections. Here I offer some analysis of the nominees' backgrounds
and assess their qualifications to represent Internet users.

In what follows I consider the following issues:
    I. Nominees' Technical Expertise
   II. Nominees' Qualifications to Represent Users
  III. Regional Breakdown and Gaps in the Set of Nominees

Let me first offer the conclusions: based on the limited information
available to date, it seems that most of ICANN's proposed candidates
reinforce the perspectives already present on the Board.  Most come from
the Internet supply industry, the intellectual property community, and the
R&D community.  Individuals from these groups possess impressive
qualifications -- but not to represent Internet users.  Only seven of
ICANN's nominees seem appropriate to represent users, i.e. they offer
perspectives that complement today's Supporting Organization directors.
Some regions, most notably Europe, have *no* nominees with a clear user
perspective.  Therefore, it will be important to develop additional Board
candidates through the Member Nomination process (which closes on August 14.)


I. Nominees' Technical Expertise
================================
Of eighteen nominees, twelve have strong computer science and networking
skills, often based on advanced degrees and careers in information
technology.  In this group are:
- both African candidates (Levin and Quaynor)
- two of the four Asian candidates (Chiang and Ramadass)
- four of the five European candidates (Hansen, Muron, Popov, Schueller)
- all three Latin American candidates (Echeberria, Campos, Poblete)
- just one of the four North American candidates (Chapin).

Of the remaining six nominees, two have technical training, but not in
information technology:
- Gao (Asia) studied geology
- Langenberg (N. America) was a professor of physics.

Three candidates have no technical degrees:
- Katoh (Asia) has degrees in law
- Lessig (N. America) degrees in economics, philosophy, and law
- Harris (N. America) has degrees in political science.

One nominee's educational field is unknown:
- Cattui (Europe) is described as a "graduate of Harvard University."

A lack of technical training and experience must be considered a weakness
in a candidate's qualifications.  It should be noted, however, that three
of the four candidates listing no technical training do work in the area of
information policy and so presumably possess knowledge of the technology
(Katoh, Lessig, and Harris).


II. Nominees' Qualifications to Represent Users
===============================================
ICANN's candidates can also be categorized according to their professional
backgrounds, perspectives, and likely values. Here the big question is how
well their backgrounds qualify them to represent users (which is what At
Large Directors are supposed to do.)

Interestingly, what it means to "represent users" is nowhere defined. Yet
the by-laws do define two different kinds of representatives and presumably
for a reason: they would seem to represent different knowledge, interests,
and values.

At Large directors could possess a "user perspective" based on a concern
for accessibility, affordability, and balanced rights of speech, privacy,
and property.  At minimum, At Large directors should *complement* today's
directors, bringing new values to the Board.  The user perspective should
not simply reinforce that which exists.

By examining today's directors we can get a sense of what views already
exist (and, therefore, do not need to be reinforced.)  The SO-elected
directors represent three groups: the supply industry, the networking R&D
community, and trademark and intellectual property interests.

First, three SO directors have ties to the corporations that supply
Internet goods and services -- companies with strong financial interests in
technical coordination.  Directors from the supply industry are: Pindar
Wong (Chairman of an association that describes itself as promoting the
business interests of the Internet service industry), Cerf (MCI Worldcom),
and Phil Davidson (BT/British Telecom).

Second, four SO Directors represent the R&D community in computer
networking. These directors often have ties to organizations that operate
academic or research networks.  They are: Pisanty (Director of Computing
Academic Services at Mexico's UNAM), Jean-Francois Abramatic (Chairman of
the World Wide Web Consortium), Robert Blokzijl (registry operations and
research networking), and Ken Fockler (who worked for companies like IBM
supplying networking services, often to universities).

Finally, two directors have expertise in or formal ties to intellectual
property, often in business law.  These directors are: Cohen (a practicing
intellectual property lawyer) and Abril i Abril (a professor of law in
business competition and contracts and a consultant to e-commerce firms).

Let there be no doubt: these are nine outstanding individuals who deserve
praise for their accomplishments.  Some have additional ties to non-profit
organizations as well.  However, in the main they represent the
perspectives of the supply industry, the R&D community, and intellectual
property.

If the incoming At Large directors are to represent users, then at minimum
they should differ from today's directors.  Based on information available
to date, however, it seems that fully eleven of ICANN's eighteen nominees
reinforce the existing perspectives.

Six of the nominees have ties to the supply industry. These are:
  - Chapin (N. America) - BBN (Verizon - GTE/Bell Atlantic)
  - Muron (Europe) - France Telecom
  - Schueller (Europe) - Deutsche Telekom
  - Katoh (Asia) - Fujitsu Ltd.
  - Miller (N. America) - Information Technology Industry Assoc.
  - Cattui (Europe) - International Chamber of Commerce

Intuitively, it makes sense to question these candidates' qualifications to
represent users. Is a large telecommunications corporation the appropriate
representative of users?  That seems unlikely (although ICANN's Nominating
Committee apparently found them appropriate.)

Continuing through the list, we find two candidates with strong ties to the
intellectual property (IP) community:
- Gao (Asia) - former Commissioner of China's State Intellectual Property
Office
- Katoh (Asia) - a Washington-based lawyer at Fujitsu who is also an expert
in intellectual property law. (He is also listed among the supply industry
candidates, above.)

True, an IP expert does have a valid claim to represent users.  After all,
intellectual property is a public policy issue that concerns many users,
and DNS management is inextricably intertwined with this area of public
policy. However, this perspective is already well-represented. Indeed,
ICANN has effectively made public policy in this area, which has led to
hundreds of domain names being reassigned.  Nominees with an IP perspective
do not complement today's directors.

Finally, another four nominees come from the R&D community. These are:
- Hansen (Europe) - Director of the Norwegian ccTLD registry
- Poblete (Latin America) - Director of School of Engineering and contact
for the Chilean ccTLD registry
- Popov (Europe) - professor of computer science in Macedonia; apparently
associated with the .mk ccTLD registry.
- Ramadass (Asia) - research leader

In total, then, eleven of ICANN's eighteen nominees reinforce perspectives
already present on the Board.

That leaves just seven of the eighteen as potential user representatives.
These seven can be categorized into three groups: small business/economic
development, non-commercial users, and public interest advocates.

Five candidates have backgrounds related to networking and small business
in developing countries.  Most have entrepreneurship and policy experience.
  These are:
- Quaynor (Africa) -small business, Internet access
- Moura Campos (Latin America) -government research management
- Levin (Africa) -small business, IT-health care
- Chiang (Asia) -College of Commerce, small business and IT
- Echeberria (Latin America) -small business
(Note: Poblete and Popov have some claim to be in this group as well.  They
have been involved in bringing the Internet to Chile and Macedonia,
respectively. However, their primary qualification appears to be their
technical expertise.)

One candidate holds a policy position for a large non-commercial institution.
- Langenberg (N. America) -Chancellor of the Univ. System of Maryland

One candidate is a law professor who has performed advocacy for consumers
and for civil liberties.
- Lessig (N. America) -legal scholar and public intellectual

All seven of these candidates would complement the existing SO directors.
It is worth noting that most of these nominees still have a business and
technical perspective.  However, small businesses often share concerns with
individual users about the potential for excessive influence by suppliers
and trademark interests.  A university system chancellor is also likely to
have different perspective than industry. Only one candidate is
distinguished as an advocate for communication and consumer rights: Lessig.
  He is the only candidate with an explicit countervailing policy
orientation to that of the intellectual property candidates.

All seven of these candidates seem qualified to represent users.  Depending
on how you look at it, "the glass is one-third full or two-thirds empty."
ICANN has offered eleven candidates with only limited appeal for Internet
users.  On the other hand, there are seven with relevant backgrounds.


III. Regional Breakdown
=======================
Since voting will occur in five regions, it is useful to see where the
qualified user candidates will stand for election.

AFRICA:  both nominees seem to posses user qualifications (Levin, Quaynor)

ASIA: only one nominee seems an appropriate user representative (Chiang).

EUROPE: not a single one of the five nominees seems appropriate to
represent users.  (Popov of Macedonia appears to be the closest candidate.)

N. AMERICA: two candidates seem appropriate (Langenberg, Lessig).

LATIN AMERICA: Echeberria and Mouros Campos seem qualified.  (Poblete may
have qualifications as well.)


Further, it may be worth considering what kinds of candidates are needed in
which regions.

Small business perspective: candidates with these qualifications are
missing in Europe and N. America.

Non-commercial institution perspective: candidates with these credentials
are missing in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America (i.e. all regions
but N. America.)

Consumer and civil liberties advocate: candidates with these credentials
are missing in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America (i.e. all regions but N.
America.)

Arguably, every region should have a consumer and civil liberties candidate
representing privacy, speech, and access.  This is needed to balance the
property rights perspective in today's ICANN. Communication rights
candidates can shape the terms of the election debates, ensuring that
important issues come to the attention of the voting public.  Issues of
affordability, access, parody, critique, and privacy are unlikely to arise
in a debate between, say, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, and the
International Chamber of Commerce. Today, only North America has a
communications rights candidate.

ICANN's Member Nomination process offers the opportunity to develop
candidates offering user-relevant perspectives.  Potential candidates have
until August 14 to put their name forward. (They will then have until
August 31 to qualify as a candidate by getting endorsements by 2% of voters
in their region, subject to a limit of seven candidates per region.  See:
http://members.icann.org/nom.html )  This analysis may help potential
candidates identify whether they can fill a gap in their region.

In summary, ICANN's nominees largely reinforce and repeat the limited set
of perspectives already on the Board. A supply industry association can
always limit user voices by asserting technical expertise as the criterion
for participation.  Automakers know more about exhaust gases than urban
residents, pharmaceutical manufacturers understand their products better
than hospital patients, and the nuclear power industry understands fission
better than people living near a plant. The same holds true for Internet
naming and addressing technology, which is best understood by the
packet-switched communications industry and the associated networking R&D
community. Yet other technology-based industries have allowed non-technical
stakeholders a voice in decisions that affect them all.  Today, Internet
users deserve representation in policy-making for the name space.  Most of
ICANN's nominees are technical experts or interested parties with limited
claim to represent users. The challenge of the coming weeks will be to
nominate user representatives as candidates for the ICANN Board.


SOURCES
=======
In the interest of fairness ICANN has offered little information about the
candidates, because the official election period has not yet begun.  Thus
this analysis is based on information from only two sources:
- ICANN's information about the candidates:
   http://www.icann.org/nomcom/nominations.htm and
- information from the Civil Society Internet Forum:
   http://www.CivilSocietyInternetForum.org
Insofar as this analysis helps prospective candidates decide whether to
run, it is consistent with a concern for fairness.

Candidates and readers are welcome to post comments to this analysis:
http://www.cpsr.org/internetdemocracy/cyber-federalist.html

The comments page currently features feedback from Mr. Paul Garrin and Ms.
Esther Dyson.


=========================================================

CYBER-FEDERALIST is a regularly-published series of analyses and
commentaries on Internet governance and ICANN elections. It is produced as
part of the Internet Democracy Project. See:
     http://www.cpsr.org/internetdemocracy
     http://www.internetdemocracyproject.org/

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