<div dir="ltr">FYI, with apologies for cross-posting (for those who will receive this more than once), thanks. Mawaki<div>------</div><div><br></div>On March 14, the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced intent to end its oversight role with the IANA functions and called for a transition process to begin toward the full administration of those key Internet domain name functions by the global multi-stakeholder community.<br>
<br>DIGILEXIS welcomes this decision and appreciates the opportunity for these functions and the stewardship of the Internet domain name system (DNS) to further evolve toward a governance model that is truly global, inclusive of all stakeholders and widely accepted as a result.<br>
<br>DIGILEXIS understands the multi-stakeholder policy making model as a _sectoral_ policy making mechanism that is in alignment with democratic values by being inclusive of all people concerned, bottom-up and consensus driven. Because, as per the implementation of the model we have seen so far, it mostly organizes the participants into groups referred to as “stakeholders,” it is even more critical to make sure the views and concerns of citizens and Internet users around the world, who are not organized into professional or particular interest groups, are taken into consideration.<br>
<br>DIGILEXIS supports the four principles put forward by NTIA to guide ICANN and the global Internet community in the formulation of a transition proposal and wants to stress the need for a unified, stable, secure and trust-worthy Internet, while still in keeping with openness and innovation as we have known. It is also critical that its development retains the need, and constantly improves on its ability, to help preserve and further Civil Liberties for all Internet users around the globe.<br>
<br>From the standpoint of the opportunities for economic development afforded by the Internet, DIGILEXIS urges the international community and the global Internet community to give particular attention to the cost structure associated with the emerging governance framework so as to reduce economic barriers for developing nations and their Internet stakeholders, to the extent those costs may result from governance and policy decisions.<br>
<br>Finally, DIGILEXIS expresses hope that the globalization of the IANA functions will be further completed by carefully assessing the jurisdiction to be applicable in the new institutional environment. This new legal regime should have an international basis with a view to reducing costs and putting the access and use of its apparatus within the reach of all stakeholders across all regions of the world. Along the same line, suitable and effective accountability and transparency mechanisms shall also be put in place.<div>
<br></div><div>---end---</div><div><br></div><div>DIGILEXIS (<a href="http://www.digilexis.com">www.digilexis.com</a>) is a small yet multifaceted corporation with consultancy, research and advocacy components. It is currently registered in Cote d'Ivoire.</div>
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