[CCWG-ACCT] Cruz / NTIA: Time to Get Expert Advice

[Greg Shatan]

Time to activate this part of the team.

On Monday, September 28, 2015, Jordan Carter <jordan at internetnz.net.nz>
wrote:

> The sooner the better. All the others are players in this drama.
> Jordan
>
> On 29 September 2015 at 16:20, Avri Doria <avri at acm.org
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','avri at acm.org');>> wrote:
>
>> +1
>>
>> On 28-Sep-15 22:35, Steve DelBianco wrote:
>> > Ed — An excellent idea.  In fact, Cam Kerry and Rick Boucher could
>> > advise CCWG via email right away.  Their insights could help us plan
>> > what we do in the days leading to Dublin.
>> >
>> > From: <accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org');>
>> > <mailto:accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org');>>>
>> on behalf
>> > of Edward Morris
>> > Reply-To: "egmorris1 at toast.net
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','egmorris1 at toast.net');> <mailto:
>> egmorris1 at toast.net <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','egmorris1 at toast.net');>
>> >"
>> > Date: Monday, September 28, 2015 at 9:46 PM
>> > To: Accountability Cross Community
>> > Subject: [CCWG-ACCT] Cruz / NTIA: Time to Get Expert Advice
>> >
>> > Hello everybody,
>> >
>> >
>> > Some of the unknowns facing this group going forward are as much
>> > political in nature as they are substantive or procedural. Do we take
>> > the opinion and perspective of Senator Ted Cruz seriously? Is it a
>> > threat to the transition? Is there something that we can do to be
>> > responsive to the genuine concerns of Senator Cruz? Are his concerns
>> > genuine?
>> >
>> > What about the NTIA? The deference shown to Secretary Strickling among
>> > some of us here is almost Papal in nature. What did Larry say, how did
>> > Larry say it, what did he really mean when he said it but really
>> > didn't say it. It's a bit ridiculous. I admire Secretary Strickling.
>> > He's a fine civil servant. His published salary, though, is less than
>> > that of a first year associate from a decent law school at a mid sized
>> > corporate law firm. He is not the all mighty. Commerce and the NTIA
>> > are complex places. Larry has absolute control of neither.
>> >
>> > I've read here today a legal analysis of the Senator's Constitutional
>> > challenge by someone I know to be neither an American nor a lawyer. I
>> > can click both boxes and I have my views but am I sure I'm right? No.
>> > It seems everyone here has an opinion as to what the NTIA will or will
>> > not accept from us. Do any of us really know? No.
>> >
>> > Prior to the Los Angeles meeting it was suggested that we might want
>> > to hear from ICANN's lobbyists, that they could explain to us their
>> > version of political reality. We properly rejected that offer. I think
>> > we've reached the point, though, where we do need to call upon the
>> > expertise of some Washington political professionals to help guide us
>> > through this part of the process. No more guesswork by amateurs or
>> >  implied threats by those with some self-interest in the matter. We're
>> > talking about who is going to run a vital part of the most powerful
>> > communications technology in human history. We need to do this
>> > right. Fortunately, we've already retained two such individuals who,
>> > if we wish, have the expertise and ability to assist us in this area.
>> >
>> > Back in the early days of this project when we were all young,
>> > innocent and hopeful :)  we retained not one but two law firms to help
>> > guide us. In retrospect that decision and two firms we chose to
>> > hire were amongst the best decisions we've made in this CCWG. I have
>> > complete faith in our lawyers and that is a rarity for me. I
>> > note  that one of the specific reasons we hired Sidley was for their
>> > Washington ties and expertise. During our interviews with the firm we
>> > were able to meet two of their professionals with the greatest
>> > knowledge of DC and government operations : Cam Kerry (
>> > http://www.sidley.com/people/cameron-f-kerry
>> > <http://www.sidley.com/people/cameron-f-kerry>)  and Rick Boucher
>> > ( http://www.sidley.com/people/rick-boucher ). Both men were extremely
>> > impressive.  It is time to tap their talents. We need serious advice
>> > in these areas from serious professionals.
>> >
>> > I would respectfully ask our Chairs and the full CCWG to consider
>> > inviting either Rick or Cam to Dublin to meet with the CCWG early in
>> > the week, preferably during the initial F2F. I think it's important
>> > that everyone has a chance to question them. We need this type of
>> > policy expertise from a politically  astute professional who owes a
>> > duty of care  to us, no one else, and whose rolodex allows him or her
>> > to reach out to those whose decisions will most impact our work.
>> > We need to know what political reality is if we are to maximise our
>> > potential as a very special and unique group dedicated to helping
>> > create a truly open and accountable governance mechanism for this
>> > small part of the networked world.
>> >
>> > Thanks for considering.
>> >
>> > Best,
>> >
>> > Ed Morris
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Accountability-Cross-Community mailing list
>> > Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
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>> > https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/accountability-cross-community
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Jordan Carter
>
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>
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