[CCWG-ACCT] GAO meeting request

Paul Rosenzweig paul.rosenzweig at redbranchconsulting.com
Mon Mar 30 19:34:26 UTC 2015


Colleagues

 

With due respect to all, I think you are overreacting and over thinking the GAO request quite a bit.  Greg is precisely right that this is an invitation to a conversation – not something we can manage the scope of.  Either we say “no” or we say “yes” and if we say “yes” they will ask whatever they want to ask.  I should add that GAO is transparent – so the way they induce acceptance is their practice of noting on the public record who declined to speak with them in whole or in part.  That image: “We requested the opportunity to speak with the co-Chairs of the CCWG, but they declined our request ….” Is about the worst thing I could imagine for public confidence in our work.

 

More importantly, as Carlos correctly pointed out, though these are relatively modest staffers, their report when issued will have significant influence with Congress.  Now it may be that we don’t care about that – but assuming we do it is incumbent upon us to put our best foot forward.  If, hypothetically, the report found critical flaws in our work and reported same that would, even if completely incorrect, be very disruptive.  Conversely, if it lauds our work as thoughtful etc., it would be of great benefit to our efforts.  To the extent the report errs, if it does so because we did not engage we would have nobody but ourselves to blame.

 

So the bottom line is that, I think, we should say “yes” with some enthusiasm.  We have work product of which we are justifiably proud and if we can’t say that to the GAO, I would wonder why.  To be sure, the co-chairs should not bind the CCWG and should make clear they do not speak “on behalf of” the group – but they can and should be authorized to tout our work as useful and an essential step to satisfying the NTIA (and, derivatively, Congress) that the transition will occur without a loss of accountability.

 

That having been said, I do think that the Co-Chairs might reasonably ask for an extra week or two – so that the meeting would occur after our proposal is released to the public for comment, as we anticipate will happen in mid-late April.  Then the Co-Chairs will have substance to talk about.  This is also something GAO will understand as they are often all about good process.  Bear in mind, however, that the GAO has deadlines of its own.  I believe I was told (though I can’t recall by whom) that the House Committee has demanded this report no later than June 30 …. 

 

Regards

Paul

 

Paul Rosenzweig

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From: Greg Shatan [mailto:gregshatanipc at gmail.com] 
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 2:26 PM
To: James Gannon
Cc: accountability-cross-community at icann.org
Subject: Re: [CCWG-ACCT] GAO meeting request

 

I agree that we should approach the GAO's request with care and thoughtfulness.  On the other hand, I don't think we can view this is a request that we can simply accept or reject as we see fit, or where we can freely negotiate the content and direction of the questions.

 

Greg

 

On Mon, Mar 30, 2015 at 1:54 PM, James Gannon <james at cyberinvasion.net <mailto:james at cyberinvasion.net> > wrote:

Based on the questions outlined in the GAO brief I think that the meeting may not align with a broad overview of the methodology and structure, if they are willing to talk about that and not delve into specific questions on experience of the co-chairs, risk identification, stakeholder representation and the extent that the NTIAs criteria are sufficient, then this may be a different discussion. B

 

But as outlined their questions are very specific, and I would say tailored to looking at the transition in a certain manner. We need to quell our willingness to share here and be very careful in how we approach this.

 

From: accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org>  [mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org> ] On Behalf Of Carlos Raúl Gutiérrez
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 6:46 PM
To: Mathieu.Weill at afnic.fr <mailto:Mathieu.Weill at afnic.fr> 
Cc: accountability-cross-community at icann.org <mailto:accountability-cross-community at icann.org> 
Subject: Re: [CCWG-ACCT] GAO meeting request

 

Dear Mathieu

 

As far as I understand the GAO has been put in charge to review the IANA transition process and inform Congress.

 

At this point I think it would be very useful to fully brief them on the methodology, working groups structure and expected timelines for the broader community inputs.

It is in any case the best opportunity to explain the whole system to the people who are going to evaluate its results and make recommendations to the lawmakers. If you convinced them, they will convince the lawmakers in a way that is not possible during open hearings.

 

I would refrain in the brief from any content issue at this time.

 

Best of luck

 

 

Carlos Raúl Gutiérrez
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Skype: carlos.raulg
+506 8335 2487 <tel:%2B506%208335%202487>  (cel)
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On Mar 30, 2015, at 4:11 AM, Mathieu Weill <mathieu.weill at afnic.fr> wrote:

 

Dear Colleagues,

For your information, the US Governement Accountability Office has requested a teleconference with the co-chairs of the CCWG. Tentative date is currently discussed for next week (7 or 8 April). 

Your inputs are welcome. 

Best regards,
Thomas Rickert, Leon Felipe Sanchez, Mathieu Weill



-------- Message transféré -------- 


Sujet : 

April 1, 2, or 3 Meeting Request CCWG-Accountability Chairs


Date : 

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:45:11 +0000


De : 

Healey, John C  <mailto:HealeyJ at GAO.GOV> <HealeyJ at GAO.GOV>


Pour : 

'rickert at anwaelte.de <mailto:rickert at anwaelte.de> '  <mailto:rickert at anwaelte.de> <rickert at anwaelte.de>, 'mathieu.weill at afnic.fr <mailto:mathieu.weill at afnic.fr> '  <mailto:mathieu.weill at afnic.fr> <mathieu.weill at afnic.fr>, 'leonfelipe at sanchez.mx <mailto:leonfelipe at sanchez.mx> '  <mailto:leonfelipe at sanchez.mx> <leonfelipe at sanchez.mx>





Good day, Mr. Rickert, Mr. Sanchez Ambia, and Mr. Weill:

 

You may recall meeting my colleagues, Derrick Collins, Alwynne Wilbur, and Kate Perl at the ICANN meeting in Singapore in February. 

 

At any rate, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has been asked by the Chairs of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and its Communications and Technology Subcommittee to review the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) proposed transition of  key Internet domain name functions to the global multistakeholder community. We are meeting with knowledgeable people and organizations to gather information for our work.

 

We would like to meet with you via teleconference to discuss the proposed transition from the perspective of the Accountability working group. We have provided a list of questions, below, to give you a better idea of the topics we want to discuss with you, and I’ll provide a teleconference line after confirming your availability (please “reply all” so that others can know of your availability). In addition to the discussion, we would also welcome written responses.

 

Would you be available for a one-hour time slot during one of the following blocks?

*         Wednesday, April 1st: 10:00 – 11:00 EST

*         Thursday, April 2nd: 11:00 – 12:00 EST

*         Friday, April 3rd: 10:00 – 11:00 EST

 

We would also like to meet with Steve DelBianco and Cheryl Langdon-Orr to discuss their work with the Stress Test Work Party. Please let me know if you’d like to be part of that meeting, too.

 

Thank you,

 

John

 

 

John Healey, Senior Analyst

Physical Infrastructure Team

U.S. Government Accountability Office

441 G Street NW, Washington DC, 20548

(202) 512-5006 <tel:%28202%29%20512-5006>    |    <mailto:HealeyJ at gao.gov> HealeyJ at gao.gov

 

 

 

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