[Internal-cg] Message to the Members of the Coordination Group.

[Subrenat, Jean-Jacques]

Dear Colleagues,

the Chair of the ALAC has asked me to convey the following message to the Members of the Coordination Group.



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Dear Members of the Coordination Group,

The ALAC is pleased with the rapid formation of the Coordination Group (CG) and the clear indication, during its initial meeting in London, that this Group is keen to achieve progress and present viable recommendations, all within a specific timeline. 
 
The following represents the ALAC’s views on key structural and leadership aspects of the CG:
 
(1) COMPOSITION OF THE CG

The Transfer of the IANA Functions’ Stewardship, as initiated by the US Government's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), is about divesting US Government oversight and transferring its responsibility to the GLOBAL Internet Community.

Yet, the current composition of the CG, which is tasked with coordinating the development of the transfer proposal, is such that it already conveys the wrong message with regards to diversity and geographic balance:
- 12 members come from the single region of North America, including 11 of US citizenship;
- Business interests are widely represented in various guises; and
- The global Internet user/non-operational stakeholders are under-represented.

Given that this unbalanced composition of the CG is difficult to correct at this juncture, it is crucial that the formation of the leadership team be done with care and sensitivity to the diversity of the global multistakeholder Internet Community. The CG’s actions are currently being followed with some concern, and will remain under scrutiny.

(2) LEADERSHIP TEAM OF THE CG

Appointment of an Interim Chair: The ALAC is aware of the importance of having an effective Interim Chair to facilitate the initial organizational aspects of the CG, including the process of selecting the CG’s Leadership Team. We support the consensus call to appoint Alissa Cooper as the Interim Chair, as we view her facilitation of the London meeting to have been excellent.
 
Formation of the Leadership Team: The ALAC considers it essential to uphold the decision taken in London to appoint 3 Co-Chairs, the process of which cannot be put to fault. The selection of the Leadership Team should also be taken as an opportunity to restore its desirable balance, and to improve the image that the CG projects to the world in terms of equal treatment and diversity.  Towards this end, individuals to be selected as Co-Chairs must represent different regions and citizenships, and should not favour, or be seen to favour, businesses or entities that are already strongly represented in the Coordination Group. While ensuring its efficiency, the CG must also take into account the expectations of the global multistakeholder communities outside the Coordination Group.

On behalf of the ALAC, I wish you every success in the accomplishment of your important task.

Olivier Crépin-Leblond,
Chair of the ALAC.
 
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Best regards,
Jean-Jacques.