<div dir="ltr">Hi Mathieu,<div><br></div><div>Thanks for sharing this request with us.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm not particularly comfortable with placing you, Thomas and Leon in the position of representing the CCWG before a Congressional agency. I would simply direct the agency to our transcripts, recordings and documents, all online, should they want information about our activities. If after looking at these materials the G.A.O. has further questions they should feel free to submit them in writing and as a group we can chose how to respond and vet the responses together before sending them back to Congress.</div><div><br></div><div>My reluctance to fully comply with the GAO request, as proffered, is largely based upon the following reasons:</div><div><br></div><div>1. We're not a traditional heirarchical based organisation where chairs speak and direct the group. Rather it's the other way around. We all know this, you all know this, I'm not sure an outside organisation such as the GAO really would understand this to the extent necessary. I would hate to see your views be reinterpreted as representative of the entire groups as the GAO processes your interviews;</div><div><br></div><div>2. In the best of situations when interviewed by professionals folks occasionally misspeak. I don't believe that either yourself, Thomas or Leon are native English speakers. Word choice is sometimes a problem among non native speakers - I know it is for me when I converse in one of my secondary languages.. We saw this a bit in Istanbul where on occasion clarifications had to be made from the head table because the language used in presenting information was not precise and led to misinterpretations by some. I don't mean to be critical of the linguistic capability of our leadership trio - Leon, in particular, has an English language ability that surpasses my own. It's just in this highly politicised world I would hate for a moment of "misspeak" to be twisted or interpreted in a way it was not intended.</div><div><br></div><div>3. Politics. In a bygone era the G.A.O. truly was an independent nonpartisan research branch of Congress. I still want to believe it largely is. Sadly, with greater frequency the G.A.O. has been accused by some of being a bit more partisan in its research. I would hate to see anything said by the C.C.W.G. leadership used in a political manner by those charged with this investigation.</div><div><br></div><div>If, despite the foregoing, it is decided that it is in the best interest of all to go forward with the interview I would respectfully suggest the following:</div><div><br></div><div>1. It be made clear to the investigators that yourself, Thomas and Leon are speaking for yourselves and not for the group as a whole during your interview, and</div><div><br></div><div>2. Prior to agreeing to do so you confer with our independent counsel as to their views and advice on the matter.</div><div><br></div><div>None of the foregoing should in any way be interpreted as anything critical of our fine co-chairs. It's just that he environment, poisoned a bit by Mr. Chehade's less than positive characterisation of the CWG leadership and work, is one in which I believe that caution is advised.</div><div><br></div><div>Kind Regards,</div><div><br></div><div>Ed Morris</div><div><br></div><div> <br></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Mar 30, 2015 at 11:11 AM, Mathieu Weill <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:mathieu.weill@afnic.fr" target="_blank">mathieu.weill@afnic.fr</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
Dear Colleagues,<br>
<br>
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). <br>
<br>
Your inputs are welcome. <br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Thomas Rickert, Leon Felipe Sanchez, Mathieu Weill<br>
<div><br>
<br>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">Sujet :
</th>
<td>April 1, 2, or 3 Meeting Request CCWG-Accountability
Chairs</td>
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<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">Date : </th>
<td>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 17:45:11 +0000</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">De : </th>
<td>Healey, John C <a href="mailto:HealeyJ@GAO.GOV" target="_blank"><HealeyJ@GAO.GOV></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap valign="BASELINE">Pour : </th>
<td>'<a href="mailto:rickert@anwaelte.de" target="_blank">rickert@anwaelte.de</a>' <a href="mailto:rickert@anwaelte.de" target="_blank"><rickert@anwaelte.de></a>,
'<a href="mailto:mathieu.weill@afnic.fr" target="_blank">mathieu.weill@afnic.fr</a>' <a href="mailto:mathieu.weill@afnic.fr" target="_blank"><mathieu.weill@afnic.fr></a>,
'<a href="mailto:leonfelipe@sanchez.mx" target="_blank">leonfelipe@sanchez.mx</a>' <a href="mailto:leonfelipe@sanchez.mx" target="_blank"><leonfelipe@sanchez.mx></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11pt">
<div>Good day, Mr. Rickert, Mr. Sanchez Ambia, and Mr. Weill:</div>
<div> </div>
<div>You may recall meeting my colleagues, Derrick Collins,
Alwynne Wilbur, and Kate Perl at the ICANN meeting in
Singapore in February. </div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div>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.</div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div>Would you be available for a one-hour time slot during
one of the following blocks?<br>
</div>
<ul style="margin:0;padding-left:36pt">
<li>Wednesday, April 1<font size="1"><span style="font-size:7.3pt"><sup>st</sup></span></font>:
10:00 – 11:00 EST</li>
<li>Thursday, April 2<font size="1"><span style="font-size:7.3pt"><sup>nd</sup></span></font>:
11:00 – 12:00 EST</li>
<li>Friday, April 3<font size="1"><span style="font-size:7.3pt"><sup>rd</sup></span></font>:
10:00 – 11:00 EST</li>
</ul>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div>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.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Thank you,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>John</div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
<div>John Healey, Senior Analyst</div>
<div>Physical Infrastructure Team</div>
<div>U.S. Government Accountability Office</div>
<div>441 G Street NW, Washington DC, 20548</div>
<div><a href="tel:%28202%29%20512-5006" value="+12025125006" target="_blank">(202) 512-5006</a> | <a href="mailto:HealeyJ@gao.gov" target="_blank">HealeyJ@gao.gov</a></div>
<div><font face="Calibri"> </font></div>
</span></font>
<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
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<br></blockquote></div><br></div>