Key Challenges and Opportunities for the Interim ALAC

ICANN will rely on the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and its supporting infrastructure to involve and represent in ICANN a broad set of individual user interests, thus helping to ensure that ICANN's policies reflect the interests of a full range of stakeholders. The ALAC is responsible for informing the individual Internet user community about ICANN's work and opportunities for individual participation, and for conveying the views of a diverse set of individual Internet users to ICANN's policy development processes.

ALAC membership affords individuals an opportunity to work with leaders in the Internet user community, and in industry, government and the public interest sectors, to help assure effective technical management of the Internet's domain name and address system. ALAC members over the next few years will have the unprecedented opportunity and difficult assignment -- to help build the processes and structures needed for effective participation in ICANN of the individual Internet user community.

On 31 October 2002, the ICANN Board adopted New Bylaws that establish the ALAC as part of a framework for the representation and involvement of individual Internet users that will be based on new or existing advocacy and interest groups throughout the world (At-Large Structures) (Article XI, Section 2(4) of the New Bylaws). At-Large Structures (either existing organizations or newly formed for this purpose) will self-organize into five Regional At-Large Organizations (one in each ICANN region Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America). The Regional At-Large Organizations will manage outreach and public involvement and will be the main forum and coordination point in each region for public input to ICANN. This local/regional infrastructure does not yet exist, and the ALACs leadership and assistance is needed to help it form.

The New Bylaws call for the ALAC to eventually consist of ten members selected by Regional At-Large Organizations, supplemented by five members selected by ICANN's Nominating Committee. To allow the ALAC to begin functioning immediately, a 10 member "Interim ALAC" was appointed by ICANNs Board to lead the formation of the At-Large infrastructure (see <http://alac.icann.org> for a list of Interim ALAC members).

ALAC members responsibilities include:

a. Selecting delegates for the Nominating Committee, and At-Large liaisons for the Board, the GNSO Council and other Committees and Task Forces;

b. Working with members of various ICANN constituencies, and the At-Large community, to advance the interests of individual Internet users -- this includes advocating for the opinions and needs of the individual Internet user community during all stages of ICANN's policy making process;

c. Serving as an At-Large liaison to other elements of the ICANN structure and building solid working relationships with them;

d. Helping to develop the ALACs advice on ICANNs activities -- this includes a time commitment to listen to individual Internet users and their organizations and to prepare and present documents and statements representing their views;

e. Considering applications for "At-Large Structure" designation and providing advice on the formation of At-Large Structures and Regional At-Large Organizations;

f. Conducting outreach to the individual Internet user community (especially to groups within their region) to encourage participation in ICANN, to solicit input on key issues, and to foster the formation of At-Large Structures and Regional At-Large Organizations;

ALAC Contact: <committee@alac.icann.org>

ALAC Website: <http://alac.icann.org>