Re: [ga] Webcast of Today's NC Meeting

[Bret Fausett <baf@fausett.com>]

Kristy, once upon a time, in the early in the days of the DNSO, the Names
Council webcast all of its meetings, in real time, using the excellent
webcasting services of the Berkman Center. Real time webcasts, however,
typically require special software, special servers, and knowledgeable staff
support. That's expensive. I think the costs to the DNSO were running
several thousand dollars per half day of real time webcasting. About a year
and a half ago, when the Names Council was still trying to reach agreement
on permanent funding mechanisms, it decided to no longer offer webcasting
for its teleconferences, for budgetary reasons, but to provide 10 listen
only ports for members of the public who wanted to listen in. (Webcasting of
the in-person meetings are still provided.)

I don't think the budgetary problems are imaginary or over. As you may know,
some constituencies are having difficulty finding sources of funds to pay
their annual DNSO assessments. There *has* been a public call for voluntary
contributions, and Verisign set aside $100,000 in a matching fund as
encouragement. The DNSO may be more well funded today than it was when it
made its initial decision on webcasting, but its budget is still limited.
The NC has been very willing to accept assistance from volunteers, as their
use of these mp3 webcasts illustrates. (Contrast, for example, the NC's
encouragement of these webcasts with the closed teleconferences that the
ICANN Board still conducts.)

       -- Bret
          
Kristy McKee wrote:
> ?what?
> 
> Bret?
> 
> There has been no public announcement that the DNSO needs money or would
> appreciate technical support for their meetings.  There has not been a
> membership drive or any information that leads me to believe your comment
> is true.  All I have read is that the DNSO experiences budget constraints
> and I don't buy it.  I don't know anyone who believes you.  If you need
> help, you must first ask for it and then be willing to receive it.
> 
> 
> ~k
> 

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