[bc-gnso] FW: Chehade Calls for "Equal Playing Field"

[Phil Corwin]

FYI--

http://www.politico.com/morningtech/0313/morningtech10262.html


ICANN'S CHEHADE: WE NEED EQUAL PLAYING FIELD IN gTLD PROCESS - As the closely watched generic top-level domain progress continues to unfold, it's also become the latest arena for companies to snipe at their rivals. That continued Tuesday as FairSearch.org, an anti-Google group led by Microsoft and backed by companies like Oracle and Kayak, disclosed that it filed objections to Mountain View's applications for certain gTLDs, citing competition concerns. But even as big companies jockey for position in the key domain name space, the process needs to ensure that voices are heard equally, ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé tells MT. "Our job is to keep everyone focused on the process of multistakeholderism. Bottom up, everyone involved, equal multistakeholders. And I think that's the difficult part, because you get people with either big names or big capabilities - or governments, by the way - who have a lot of say, making the balance lost in the process of building policy," he said. "So what we need to do is to keep bringing people back to that process to sit down, to discuss things at an equal level and have all voices heard together."

The ICANN leader spoke at the Computer and Communications Industry Association's 40th anniversary dinner last night, where he let slip to attendees that he's planning to head to and open the World Telecommunication Policy Forum in May. Rep. Zoe Lofgren also delivered remarks, telling attendees that her work on immigration policy is an "all day, every day" endeavor, and is confident that a deal on comprehensive reform can be reached. And Sen. Ron Wyden was there too, cautioning the room that ensuring Internet freedoms in America isn't sufficient - keeping the global marketplace open is necessary for American businesses to succeed.
ELSEWHERE TODAY - Federal Trade Commissioner Julie Brill and ICANN's Chehadé speak at the Association of National Advertisers conference


Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal
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