[WSIS CS-Plenary] Subcommittee A meeting, 21.9.05

[Jeanette Hofmann]

Hi, here are yesterday's notes on the Subcommittee A meeting taken by 
Milton Mueller. Sorry for the delay.


Subcommittee A (Internet Governance) Wednesday Sept 21 2005

Malaysia
Bridging the digital divide is most important. Negative effects of
Internet. pornography. issues of security trust etc prevents people from
using e-commerce. If left unchecked could grow to be the demon of the
Internet. Want a global mechanism to counter and to promote use of
Internet. Interconnection costs. IP address management, root server.
Public policy issues outside the purview of ICANN. Responsibility rests
on sovereign nations.

Barbados
WGIG has discharged its responsibilities with distinction. Excellent
basis for addressing challenges. Single country should not exert
disproportionate influence, this situation must end. Governance
structure should be based on geographical representation.
Interconnection costs. Capacity building. consumer protection and
privacy legislation necessary to promote widest use of internet. spam,
illegal intrusion, etc. all stakeholders needed to solve these
problems.

Uruguay
public policies - balanced, concise. costs of interconnection. an
extremely sensitive and important pub pol issue.  Models 2 and 3 can
create an appropriate basis for solutions.

Philippines
appreciate WGIG report. <missed the rest - had conversation with
H.>

Sri Lanka
IP addressing policy should ensure regional and country-specific
allocations. Interconnection should be based on cost-sharing.

Kenya
supports African group statement. supports Forum, but financial
implications deserve careful consideration. Equitable distribution of
resources important. GAC ICANN strengthened to deal with public policy
issues. F/OSS, use of African languages. Sovereign equality of states
and responsibility for public policy, shared at regional and
international levels. We should be at a problem-solving stage now.

Bangla Desh
in 2000 govt took a policy on ICT. legislative and regulatory issues.

Egypt

Mexico
Supports Forum. Invites subcommittee to work on its conceptualization
to make it a reality. Supports privacy and harmonization of national
legislation. Enhance user trust.

Senegal
....More small developing country support for interconnection cost.

Thailand
positive and negative aspects of internet. crime, viruses, hacking,
spam, etc.

UN Development Fund for Women
Strongly supports Forum function. Commend WGIG for recommendation in
para. 43. would like to see same guarantees in all IG structures.

CCBI
no need for a new "centralized" policy making process; i.e. against
forum. govts not the driver of internet policy. governments need to
understand role of industry self-regulation. Alcatel says that
intelligence in the network improves the internet and is compatible with
end to end.

Russia
Doesn't like definition, offers ITU definition.

USA
Understandable definition. a working definition. It would be difficult
to say that it is the only definition. Numerous comments made by
multi-stakeholder community on the definition, containing a variety of
views. WGIG is only one definition among many. All should be given
consideration.

Chair: Is it a working definition?

USA: It certainly does lend itself to much work.

Chair asserts in numerous contexts that they will not start from
scratch in any areas. Most efficient way to address these subjects is
not to reopen question of definition.

Roles and Responsibilities
Policy authority is a sovereign right of states.

Iran

Saudi Arabia
WGIG spent a lot of time on these issues.

Canada: WGIG not a negotiating body and its definitions cannot exclude
others. Wants to add stuff about "knowledge"

USA: speak in favor of DT7-E. That document contains a richness of
views. Important to give them an opportunity to address their concerns.

End OF NOTES

je