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ICANN Approves Community User Groups
December 18, 2003 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN.org) announced this week that six community user groups in three geographic regions have received "at-large structure" certification in a step towards fulfilling the organization's objective to have structured individual Internet user participation.
"These groups will engage geographically and professionally diverse communities of individual Internet users in ICANN activities that affect people's use of the Internet," said Vittorio Bertola, chair of the Interim At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) for ICANN.
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At-Large Structures, according to ICANN, have a recognized role in the development of ICANN policies and they have opportunities to participate in ICANN policy-making groups at the regional and international levels.
Bertola said ICANN's policy development should reflect the needs and opinions of individual Internet users that make up what he calls the "global civil society."
ICANN's At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) is responsible for the certification process and has encouraged interested and qualified groups in all geographic regions to become At-Large Structures.
"This is a critical step that will involve the At-Large community in ICANN deliberations," said Paul Twomey, ICANN President and CEO. "Groups participating as At-Large Structures will help ensure that the voice of different sectors of the Internet community will be more distinctly heard and their views will be effectively taken into account when ICANN takes action on issues of interest to the user community."
