Agenda-setting Report for WGIG Released

While it is natural for organizations to resist criticism, there’s a serious problem with ICANN refusing to take legitimate criticism seriously. If ICANN doesn’t address its serious critics, and mature as an organization quickly, the Internet community may well coalesce behind an international governing body such as the ITU, and leave ICANN behind in a dust cloud of irrelevance.

While ICANN openly bristles at it’s critics calls that it become more open, inclusive, and transparent, it should remember that it is far more dangerous a game to ignore its potential competitors. Listen to how the ITU is selling its Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG):
"As outlined at the PrepCom in Hammamet, one of our priorities is to make sure that the process ahead of us is as open, inclusive and transparent as possible. To this end, the Secretariat is organizing consultations open to all Governments and stakeholders on the establishment of the WGIG, its structure and working methods as well as the scope of its work.
Is ICANN paying attention? Those of us in the competitive marketplace know when we are being challenged. Does ICANN?

ICANN, NTIA, and yes, even us critics should be careful to remember that the whole framework under which ICANN is “governing” the Internet is a very new, very fragile construct that is subject to review and replacement. We all might be shocked by how quickly the Internet community leaves the ICANN regulatory regime and elects an ITU regulatory regime in its place.

I for one do not fear a competition between ITU and ICANN, since it is likely to pressure both bodies to offer not just the best collective “deal,” but the best “process” for Internet producers, users, and brokers.

But ICANN should not kid itself that its current de facto monopoly status will last indefinitely. It will not. Potential competitors are out there, they are paying attention to the dissatisfaction with ICANN, and they are seeking entry into ICANN’s “market.” ICANN may chose to dismiss its critics, but it dismisses its competitors at its peril.

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