BACKGROUND INFORMATION

This document was created to capture the Preparatory Work for the purposes of developing a Regional Strategy. This Working Paper is only a working document intended to feed into the development of the Strategy or Strategic Development Framework. This is designed to allow members of the Working Group to put their thoughts to paper. This space is for brainstorming and we are not developing the strategy here, simply putting thoughts together. THIS WORKING PAPER IS NOT THE STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK. We have just created ad hoc categories to help us jot down thoughts that come to mind.

EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT

The objective of conducting an empirical assessment is to enable the community to identify and evaluate where things are as far as engagement in ICANN is concerned. Stock taking is an integral part of mapping the layout of the landscape and identifying gaps through needs based assessment and assessing whether current resources can meet existing demand. This process helps to inform the planning process to enable planners to efficiently strategise and allocate resources.

As part of the empirical assessment process, an Information paper was prepared by Pasifika Nexus and a Survey was launched which was disseminated by the Working Group. The information was a desk review of ICANN engagement in Oceania and the Survey was designed to extract the voices of diverse stakeholders within Oceania to feed into the planning process. It is envisaged that the combination would appropriately inform the members of the ICANN Oceania Working Group as they commence their planning process. WE WILL USE THE INFORMATION BELOW TO JOINTLY CONDUCT A SWOT ANALYSIS ON THE STATE OF THINGS IN OCEANIA.

LIMITATIONS

We did not have financial data that is historical and current allocations to Oceania that would have allowed us to see the amount of resources available to Oceania. However we were guided by Save that resources were at a minimum in the past and it is hoped that with a clear strategy this will change. Noting that the ICANN Strategy Panel Draft call for comments ends at 31st January 2014 that would determine the output by the Panel that would be presented to the wider ICANN community in the Singapore March meeting. Whilst there would be time to raise comments on their Draft, it would be advisable for Oceania to feed into the process before 31 January, 2014.

ICANN’s STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Affirmation of Commitment Reviews

ATRT2 Review Final Report

Strategy Panels

Announcement
Draft Focus Areas Call for Comments open till January 31, 2014 [This will affect Strategy and Budget Resources]

1.0 [GENERAL ANALYSIS]

1.1 ICANN Oceania VP Observations (Save Vocea)

In the early days we had a different ICANN where the messages had been "We are not for profit and should not be perceived or seen as a development agency" so no funding allocation per se was at 'regional basis". Our work are goals oriented.

Most of the work was across its constituents. When the Global Partnerships department was formed with Theresa Swinehart as GM; she started to build a team of regional managers like me to cover the region. ICANN could now start to reach out widely and engage stakeholders in the region and the team members would mostly attend regional meetings or set up bilateral meetings and offer presentations to raise awareness of ICANN and the issues at hand. So one can say that regionally ICANN provided a staff contact/liaison for the region back then. Paul Twomey (CEO then) started the internationalization of ICANN staff to reach out.

The only funding support we could actually pay out at the time, (and at times was even a challenge to get) was to sponsor capacity building events like NOGs – this was first in kind sponsorships via resource staff doing workshops, then we could help partner NSRC to subsidise their costs as they were starting out as well. So I chose to support PacNOG and PacINET quite early and started to build relationships on getting new members for the SO's and AC's that at the time were low at 25% membership from Oceania.

With Fadi coming on board and with the formation of the new GSE team, funds started to be allocated when RVPs were given a budget to implement their regional strategies. That is why it makes sense to have a regional engagement strategy so there is a process to show that the region actually wants the type of engagement they are proposing to engage better with ICANN. During implementation ICANN is clear on what type of activities it can support or can work with partners to deliver. A budget can be worked out from the regional strategy moving fwd.

So if trying to get what ICANN has contributed to the Oceania region in the last 5 years we can generally say: in kind sponsors to events in the region like NOGs where staff resource is available as subject matter experts (eg. Getting IANA and Security staff to travel to the region). Promotion of its fellowship program enabling Oceania community members to participate in physical ICANN meetings. Participation of a staff member at regional events addressing various stakeholders from governments, industry, civil society. Partial sponsorship of PacNOG and PacINET events. Working with other partners to support capacity building in ccTLD management and support for the Pacific IGF.

I'm hoping that with a new Oceania strategy ICANN will be able to then allocate needed funds to support implementation of some activities the group puts forward.

1.2 SWOT Analysis

1.1.1 Identify Strengths

ICANN Staff which includes subject matter experts
Human Resources (Technical Skill, Experience etc)

Strategic positioning and placement of people from within Oceania who can advocate on our behalf within ICANN eg. Keith Davidson ccNSo Councillor and Vice Chair, Chris Disspain ICANN Board Member, Save Vocea RVP Oceania GSE
APTLD GM - Don Hollander
ICANN Procedure Experts - Cheryl Langdon Orr (At Large/NomCom)
experienced ccTLD managers eg. AUDA and Internet New Zealand
Domain Name Commissioner (NZ)
Brian Carpenter stalwart within IETF having penned many RFCs
MAG Members: Paul Wilson. Anju Mangal and Susan Chalmers
There are many other technical people with a strong commitment to the Pacific. Andy Linton, Dean Pemberton, many in the NZNOG team
The Team at Cocca are another good source of resources.
Partner with Universities for research purposes (PICISOC will soon sign an MOU with University of Auckland for research on improving Internet in the Pacific)
Beacon project at UoA for the purpose of analysing latency in links over time (include the Asia Pacific region).
New SO, AC members per country

1.1.2 Identify Weaknesses

To date, no direct financial resource allocations
Lack of commitment
Disinterest
No Incentive
Competing meetings/events in the region
Insufficient resource availability to cover ICANN
Lack of budget
Constrained bandwidth to for remote participation and access to media
Difficult time zone
Lack of open participation in country on Internet resource management PDP

1.2.3 Identify Opportunities

The Pacific Makes up 25 (or so) distinct economies and entities (ccs). Fewer, but still a fair number of votes in inter-governmental organisations such as the ITU, the UN (and UNDP and UNESCO). If the attention of Gov’ts could be attained then a Collective Pacific could provide greater influence. A Big IF, but an IF nonetheless.
New gTLD registry options
New registrar markets

1.1.4 Identify Threats

Lack of sustainability
Disinterest by many Govt’s.
Lack of a resourced/funded coordinator for the Pacific - perhaps a role for the Forum.

1.2 Findings from Information Paper [To be inserted]

1.3 Findings from Survey [To be inserted]

2.0 [Identify Strategic Alliances]

2.1 Global

IETF, IAB, ISOC
IEEE
ISO, ITU
Packet Clearing House
NSRC
UNDP
UNESCO
Philanthropic organisations: Ford, Carneigie, Google, Facebook
Global Knowledge Foundation

2.2 Regional

APTLD
PITA
APT
APNIC
PICISOC
PACNOG
ITU-Asia Pacific
PiRRC
PacCERT
Regional Regulators
PIP
UNDP
UNESCO
South Pacific Computer Society

2.3 National

ccTLD Operators
Regulators
ISOC Chapters
ICT Association
AusNOG
NZNOG document
ACCMA
Carriers
Computer Societies
Disability org

3.0 [What is the vision?]

3.1 Vision

- Uniting ICT resources in the Oceania region

4.0 [What are the Objectives?]

Considerations - Are there long term objectives and short term objectives?
What do we want to achieve?

4.1Establish High Level Political Will

That Gov’t Leaders - Prime Ministers, Ministers of Communications, Ministers of Finance, Ministers of Education and Ministers for Foreign Affairs (or their equivalents) understand the value of an Open and Uncapturable Internet that is robust and resilient. That these Ministers empower their officials to actively work to facilitate growth in strong, stable and resilient infrastructure and training for all members of the community in how to use the Internet in a safe and secure manner. That the Ministers establish metrics that are reviewed every year. That the Prime Ministers instruct the Pacific Forum to act as a representative in International Forum to advocate for an open and uncapturable Internet based on open standards that are developed by the Community and For the Community.

4.2 Increase in Accredited At Large Structures

That each country establish at least one ‘Computer/Internet Society’ or technical community that provides a home for people interested in IT and the underpinnings of the Internet.

4.3 Active ccTLD managers within Local Communities

That ccTLDs are active in their local community to support, in parallel, the other objectives outlined.

4.4 Increase Competition in the Provision of Internet Services

That active and robust competition in the provision of Internet services be fostered in each country.

4.5 Increased and Targeted Education

That the whole community is educated and engaged in informed discussion of the challenges and opportunities that the Internet can provide. This will include Government, for sure. But it will also include Academics, Geeks, Carriers, ISPs, Businesses, Churches and villages and other community groups.

5.0 [What are the Values that we subscribe to?]

5.1 Values

5.2 Collaboration

- There is a need for an effective way of bringing everyone into one place to discuss way forward for ICT in the region. It could be an expensive approach but there must be a way for everyone to collaborate.

5.3 Inclusive

6.0 What are the Priority Areas?

What Areas did the Stakeholders from the Survey Identify?
What specific areas do we want to prioritise?
Is it already being catered for?
What are the gaps?
What should we prioritise?
Are there some goals that

7.0 What Mechanisms Do we need to put in place ensure that

What systems do we currently have?
Are these existing systems meeting the priority areas?
Can these Systems be Strengthened if so, how?
What additional systems can be implemented?
Is there need for Stimulus?

8.0 What Resources are Currently Available to Us?

Do we have the resources?
What type of resources are needed

9.0 What Resources Will We Need

What Additional Resources are Needed?
Can Resources be Shared?

10 Communication Tools

What tools do we already have?

An excellent representative of ICANN and Advocate in Save Vocea
ICANN Wiki

What tools do we need?

More advocates - particularly those with passion who are NOT paid by ICANN to be an advocate.
ICANN Oceania Website
Online Learning Platform

11 Developing Content and Training Areas

Introduction to Internet Governance
Introduction to ICANN
ICANN Procedures
Cyber Security

Internet Routing Security
look into its key role of naming and numbering systems where it can minimise vulnerabilities /eliminating gaps that may be of risk

Asia Pacific

Working Paper [Corporate Analysis]

Analytics

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