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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Alan Davidson, CDT Email: abd@cdt.org Phone: 202-637-9800 | or | Jeff Cronin, Common Cause Email: jcronin@commoncause.org Phone: 202-833-1200 | or | Frank DiFulvio, ALA Phone: 202-628-8410 |
Wednesday, June 28, 2000 ‹ Today, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the American Library Association, and Common Cause unveiled their new voter registration drive for an upcoming online election that is the first of its kind. In September, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), an international non-profit organization that manages Internet domain names, addresses and other technical functions, will globally elect five individuals to its Board of Directors.
CDT, ALA, and Common Cause are encouraging all Internet users to register immediately. To that end, they have set up Web sites providing comprehensive information for those seeking to learn about ICANN and register to vote. The sites can be accessed online at:
Visitors can learn more about ICANN and its mission, register to vote, and view a primer on domain-name issues entitled "Your Place in Cyberspace."
"The ICANN Board will be making decisions on issues that affect everyday Internet users, such as the resolution of domain name disputes or the base cost of domain name registration," said Jerry Berman, CDT Executive Director. " All Internet users should exercise their right to vote, to make sure that ICANN's decisions are in the greater Internet's best interests. But more than that, we need to see whether ICANN, with its combination of public, business, and non-profit involvement, can function as a legitimate body serving the public interest. This is showtime for ICANN. Will Internet users show up?"
"Common Cause, an organization that has been fighting for openness and accountability in offline democracy for 30 years, has recognized the need to apply our values and our experience to the embryonic field of Internet governance," Common Cause President Scott Harshbarger said. "Not only because this global election is a historic first, but because the stakes are as high as they are. Management of this important worldwide resource is too important to leave to a body that it is not accountable to anyone."
"Libraries have always been central to democracy, educating and informing the public and encouraging participation in the electoral process," said the Director of ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy, Rick Weingarten. "With our partners, ALA wants to see the public voice fully represented in managing and governing the Internet. We see this as an exciting experiment in Internet democracy."
The upcoming election is unprecedented in its scope; every Internet user who is sixteen years of age or older is eligible to vote. All that's required of a potential voter is an e-mail address and a verifiable postal address, and he or she can become one of ICANN's "At-Large" members. Over 20,000 people worldwide have registered already, largely from North America and Europe. Registration is expected to close on July 31, with elections to be held in late September.
ICANN was formed in October 1998. Prior to its inception, the US government managed the domain name system; ICANN's mission is to impartially administer that system independently from national governments. The organization consists of a board of directors, three Supporting Organizations, several advisory committees and an At-Large membership. The directors chosen in this election (the At-Large directors) will complete ICANN's 18-member board, and will join directors already chosen by the technical, business and nonprofit organizations that participate in ICANN.
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The Center For Democracy & Technology 1634 Eye Street NW, Suite 1100 Washington, DC 20006 (v) 202.637.9800 (f) 202.637.0968 Contact CDT Copyright © 2005 by Center for Democracy and Technology. |