Why GAC has a key role to play in Net governance - Company Business and Marketing

CommunicationsWeek International, July 19, 1999 by Paul Twomey

Dr. Paul Twomey is chairman of the Governmental Advisory Committee of ICANN.

ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee is not, as many would like to believe, the dead hand of government intent on closing down the Internet.

"GAC," as it is more commonly referred to, is one of a number of entities that provides advice to the Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It is also the sole voice that governments have within ICANN--a consensus-based, non-governmental body with a limited mandate in the administration of a select number of technical Internet management functions-to express their concerns and ensure that the public interest is assured in cyberspace.

Contrary to some of the views that have been put forward (CWI, 7 June, p.10), governments are concerned and do want to make certain that a barrage of rules and regulations do not close in and stifle the development of the Internet. This is for a number of reasons, including economic growth, concern for consumer benefits, and a desire for the Internet to be capable of producing efficiency dividends across economies.

Given that the Internet is no longer an experimental network, but potentially the platform for economies, it is vital that stability be ensured. This is in no way a directive for innovation to be sacrificed in favor of stability-indeed, it is hoped that the Internet will continue to operate and develop in the spirit in which it was conceived. However, given the crucial role that the Internet plays in facilitating global communications, electronic commerce and its role in potentially underpinning whole economies, even the most ardent innovator will appreciate the genuine and very real need for stability.

The GAC does not operate in a hermetically sealed vacuum. Everyone, including governments, is conscious of the existing apprehension that "high politics" may enter Internet policy-making and bring about compromises that might encumber development of the Internet. For this very reason, the way in which ICANN and the GAG are structured is specifically designed for governments to take a "hands off" approach to the technical management of the Internet. However, the public interest must be assured with regard to cyberspace, and short of the establishment of treaties and conventions, the GAG is the most rational process by which this may be achieved. The participation of governments in an advisory capacity provides a balanced approach to facilitating the progression of the smooth transition to private sector administration of a select range of Internet technical management functions.

If the ICANN process, which supports private-sector participation, is to succeed then a crucial component of the way forward is for the Internet community and the general public to make use of their government representatives and to work with the GAG, not against it. If the ICANN process collapses, then there won't be any more private-sector based Supporting Organizations and Committees-the whole issue then immediately becomes intergovernmental, and the notion of the matter being dealt with behind closed doors in some "high political" forum is no longer merely a hypothetical perception, but a very genuine reality. I would therefore urge the Internet community not to misinterpret what ICANN, and the GAG as part of the ICANN process, is here for, and more importantly not to misinterpret the alternative.

In keeping with its role, the GAG is aware of and attentive to key policy issues, and in turn responds to the concerns of its respective Member governments and organizations, and also to any occurrences. That GAG not only provides advice to the ICANN Board upon request, but also on issues that are of interest to governments and no doubt also to the Internet community, on its own initiative, is a testament to the fact that the GAG is getting on with the job that it was designed to do-to ensure that the public interest is assured in cyberspace.