From: <kichango@gmail.com>
To: <DNSTransition@ntia.doc.gov>
Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2006 8:40 PM
Subject: Comments on DNS Transition, Docket No. 060519136-6136-01

To the U.S. Department of Commerce:

As the USG rightly noted in its comment to the UN's WGIG Report, "It is at
the edges where individuals, groups and corporations alike have the
opportunity to add value to the network through pioneering applications
and services. Local empowerment [...] reinforces the importance of all
stakeholders in safeguarding the security, stability and robustness of
this interconnected network of networks."

Those participating from the edges in the value creation of the Internet
become more and more aware of policy issues that can impact the global
Internet, and now want to be involved.

Indeed, since the Internet's value is created by the participation and
cooperation of people all over the world, it is just legitimate to allow
them not only to have a say, but more particularly to be heard in the most
appropriate and sustainable way in global Internet-related issues and
decisions.

The pre-eminant role played by the USG has not always allowed that, let
alone that transparency and accountability of the ICANN Board decisions
may be largely improved.

The USG claims its political oversight of ICANN for the sake of the
security and stability of the Internet. But the fact is, if that oversight
remains the result of an unilateral decision, the example of the China
alternative root servers will soon be followed by other countries and we
may as well forget about the stability of the Internet and even about the
idea of a global (and unique) Internet altogether.

So far, the Internet is still global, not national. Therefore no single
Government should have a pre-eminent role in Internet governance.

As the US reviews its contract with ICANN, it should work cooperatively
with all stakeholders to complete the transition to a Domain Name System
independent of US governmental control, as well as of any single
government control. The new framework should contain the legitimate role
of governments to issues critical to their traditional functions, without
prejudice to human rights, transparency and accountability. It should
reinforce the non-governmental and multi-stakeholder nature, as well as
the bottom up processes of ICANN.

Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

Mawaki Chango
Togo