From: "Manal Ismail" <manal@tra.gov.eg>
To: "dnstransition@ntia.doc.gov" <'dnstransition@ntia.doc.gov'>
Date: Sun, Jul 16, 2006 9:17 AM
Subject: Comments on DNS Transition, Docket No. 060519136-6136-01
.. Egypt recognizes the initiative by the US Government of issuing
this
Notice of Inquiry, and welcomes the opportunity to respond
to the
request of the Department of Commerce, specifically the National
Telecommunications and Information Authority (NTIA), for comments
on
"The Continued Transition of the Technical Coordination
and Management
of the Internet Domain Name and Addressing System."
Egypt acknowledges the outcome of the discussions on Internet
Governance
during both phases of the United Nations World Summit on the
Information
Society (WSIS) and believes it is of significant relevance
to the
ongoing process.
Egypt has been closely following the ICANN process since its
start in
late 1998. In March 2000, Egypt hosted the first ICANN round
of
meetings in the region and since March 2002, Egypt has been
actively
participating in the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC)
of ICANN.
Egypt highly recognizes the efforts and progress done by ICANN
to
achieve greater efficiency and responsiveness and to effectively
involve
all stakeholders. In specific, Egypt recognizes ICANN's efforts
in
fostering competition in the domain names market, in enhancing
bottom-up
coordination and in improving equitable representation by involving
different regions and interest groups. Egypt further recognizes
the
effort done by ICANN concerning Multilingualism and notes that
more
effort is still needed in this respect in order to meet the
needs of the
international internet community.
In this context, and in view of the upcoming expiration of
the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US Department
of Commerce
and ICANN, in September 2006, Egypt believes the following
should be
well noted:
* The Internet was developed and promoted by the industry with
its
technical pioneers; and should continue to develop freely.
* It is evident that the Internet has evolved into a global
facility, the management of which should be multilateral, transparent
and democratic, with the full involvement of all stakeholders
including
governments, the private sector, the civil society and international
organizations.
* No single Government should have a pre-eminent role in Internet
governance, rather an international mechanism for coordination
should be
adopted especially as related to public policy issues.
* Internet management should ensure an equitable distribution
of
resources, facilitate access for all and ensure a stable and
secure
functioning of the Internet, taking into account multilingualism.
* ICANN has so far performed a creditable job in managing domain
names and IP addresses as well as coordinating among root server
operators. ICANN should remain focused on those functions necessary
to
maintain the security and stability of the Internet.
* The progress done by ICANN to involve all stakeholders, taking
into account governmental input communicated through the GAC
and
individuals' input expressed via the ALAC, is highly welcomed;
however
stronger involvement of the international community with all
its
stakeholders is still needed.
In this respect, Egypt believes that the US Department of Commerce
should work closely with the international community and ICANN
on a
transition plan aiming at establishing an independent internationalized
ICANN based on public-private partnership and actively interacting
with
governments.
Manal Ismail
Egypt GAC Representative |