[council] Update on teleconference to interview the candidates for ICANN Board seat #14

["Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@melbourneit.com.au>]

Hello All,

Based on the feedback I have received so far, I will go ahead and arrange the teleconference to interview the candidates for:

Tuesday 11 March at 20:00 UTC
- 3pm Washington, DC
- 9pm Brussels
- 7am (Wednesday) Melbourne, Australia

If any candidate cannot make that time, please let me know and I will try to arrange a separate teleconference to accommodate you.

The teleconference will be of 90 minutes duration.

Each candidate will have 20 minutes to respond to the same set of questions.
Council members and the ALAC liaison will be able to ask for clarification on any of the responses.  Candidates should take advantage of the opportunity to provide a pre-prepared candidate statement, and use the teleconference to bring out the highlights of that statement.

The call will be established with a significant number of listen only ports for use by GNSO constituency members to hear the candidates responses to the questions.  An audio recording will be made of the teleconference and made available shortly after the call is complete.

I have the following set of questions so far:


Question 1
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(1) Please explain how you meet the selection criteria for ICANN Board directors:
Directors shall be: 

* Accomplished persons of integrity, objectivity, and intelligence, with reputations for sound judgment and open minds, and a demonstrated capacity for thoughtful group decision-making; 

* Persons with an understanding of ICANN's mission and the potential impact of ICANN decisions on the global Internet community, and committed to the success of ICANN; 

* Persons who will produce the broadest cultural and geographic diversity on the Board consistent with meeting the other criteria set forth in this Section; 

* Persons who, in the aggregate, have personal familiarity with the operation of gTLD registries and registrars; with ccTLD registries; with IP address registries; with Internet technical standards and protocols; with policy-development procedures, legal traditions, and the public interest; and with the broad range of business, individual, academic, and non-commercial users of the Internet; 

* Persons who are willing to serve as volunteers, without compensation other than the reimbursement of certain expenses; and 

* Persons who are able to work and communicate in written and spoken English. 


Question 2
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(2) Please explain how you as an ICANN Board member would assist ICANN to achieve it's Mission over the next 2 years, consistent with its core values.

MISSION

The mission of The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") is to coordinate, at the overall level, the global Internet's systems of unique identifiers, and in particular to ensure the stable and secure operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. In particular, ICANN:

1. Coordinates the allocation and assignment of the three sets of unique identifiers for the Internet, which are

a. Domain names (forming a system referred to as "DNS");

b. Internet protocol ("IP") addresses and autonomous system ("AS") numbers; and

c. Protocol port and parameter numbers.

2. Coordinates the operation and evolution of the DNS root name server system.

3. Coordinates policy development reasonably and appropriately related to these technical functions.


CORE VALUES

In performing its mission, the following core values should guide the decisions and actions of ICANN:

1. Preserving and enhancing the operational stability, reliability, security, and global interoperability of the Internet.

2. Respecting the creativity, innovation, and flow of information made possible by the Internet by limiting ICANN's activities to those matters within ICANN's mission requiring or significantly benefiting from global coordination.

3. To the extent feasible and appropriate, delegating coordination functions to or recognizing the policy role of other responsible entities that reflect the interests of affected parties.

4. Seeking and supporting broad, informed participation reflecting the functional, geographic, and cultural diversity of the Internet at all levels of policy development and decision-making.

5. Where feasible and appropriate, depending on market mechanisms to promote and sustain a competitive environment.

6. Introducing and promoting competition in the registration of domain names where practicable and beneficial in the public interest.

7. Employing open and transparent policy development mechanisms that (i) promote well-informed decisions based on expert advice, and (ii) ensure that those entities most affected can assist in the policy development process.

8. Making decisions by applying documented policies neutrally and objectively, with integrity and fairness.

9. Acting with a speed that is responsive to the needs of the Internet while, as part of the decision-making process, obtaining informed input from those entities most affected.

10. Remaining accountable to the Internet community through mechanisms that enhance ICANN's effectiveness.

11. While remaining rooted in the private sector, recognizing that governments and public authorities are responsible for public policy and duly taking into account governments' or public authorities' recommendations. 

These core values are deliberately expressed in very general terms, so that they may provide useful and relevant guidance in the broadest possible range of circumstances. Because they are not narrowly prescriptive, the specific way in which they apply, individually and collectively, to each new situation will necessarily depend on many factors that cannot be fully anticipated or enumerated; and because they are statements of principle rather than practice, situations will inevitably arise in which perfect fidelity to all eleven core values simultaneously is not possible. Any ICANN body making a recommendation or decision shall exercise its judgment to determine which core values are most relevant and how they apply to the specific circumstances of the case at hand, and to determine, if necessary, an appropriate and defensible balance among competing values.

Question 3
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(3) Please identify any potential conflicts of interest (for example relationships with parties, such as registries and registrars, that are in contractual relationships with ICANN), and explain how you will deal with these conflicts in the course of your duties as an ICANN Board director.


If you have other questions you would like to ask, please let me know at least 24 hours prior to the call so that the candidates have a chance to prepare.  I encourage council members to consult with their constituencies to formulate further important questions.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin