To: The Council Working Group on International Internet-Related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet)
Introduction
We thank the Council Working Group on International Internet-Related Public Policy Issues (CWG-Internet) for the opportunity to comment on such important issues relating to how the Internet can be foundational to sustainable development. We are members of the Internet’s technical community: the companies, organizations, groups and actors whose day-to-day responsibility is to operate the critical infrastructure and services at the heart of the Internet.
A driver of innovation, progress and development, the Internet touches all aspects of human life, and is a critical tool in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This transformative technology is governed through collaboration across varied overlapping stakeholders and processes-and involves the participation of distinct stakeholder groups: governments, civil society, academia, the private sector and the technical community. This form of collaborative governance or dialogue is called multistakeholderism.
The technological success of the Internet-the reason it works seamlessly across the globe-is the direct result of the multistakeholder approach to Internet governance and its use in various fora and initiatives. This approach enables stakeholders to come together on an equal footing to discuss or make decisions about the Internet and to foster its ongoing evolution and expansion.
The multi-stakeholder approach fosters diversity, accountability and transparency that cannot be replicated in intergovernmental environments alone. It also ensures that decision-making about the Internet and its governance isn’t led by individual nation-based political interests. The multistakeholder approach is the appropriate model to govern the Internet as it allows for all key stakeholders-governments, the private sector, the technical community, academia, and civil society-to offer their expertise. The multistakeholder approach also allows the flexibility to address ever-evolving technologies.
Key Points
- Relevance of Multilateral and Multi-Stakeholder Processes:
- Processes like the Summit of the Future, WSIS+20, and the IGF are essential for upholding the strong mandate of the IGF and the multistakeholder frameworks that have shaped the Internet into a reliable tool for development.
- Effective solutions must be developed via multi-stakeholder processes, providing open and inclusive bottom-up participation and transparent, consensus-based decision-making.
- Challenges and Opportunities:
- Promoting a secure and resilient Internet and fostering multi-stakeholder participation are crucial.
- The deployment of IPv6 involves complex relationships and requires coordinated efforts by various stakeholders.
- Continued support for multi-stakeholder approaches ensures robust decision-making and a resilient Internet.
- Promoting International Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation:
- Mechanisms to better enable the participation of all stakeholders, particularly from developing countries, are needed.
- Strengthening the role of the IGF and ensuring ongoing commitment to multi-stakeholder processes are vital for sustainable Internet development.
Conclusion
We call on the ITU to continue to work together with other stakeholders to find consensus and cultivate a shared vision for the future of the Internet where its social and economic benefits are realised, and to do so through its continued support of transparent, accountable, and multi-stakeholder mechanisms.
Signatories
- Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC)
- au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA)
- Blacknight
- CIRA (.ca)
- DENIC eG
- DNS Africa Ltd
- IE Domain Registry CLG (.ie)
- InternetNZ (.nz)
- Japan Network Information Center (JPNIC)
- Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. (JPRS)
- Network Information Center (NIC Costa Rica)
- NİRA (.ng)
- Nominet UK (.uk)
- Norid (.no)
- Public Interest Registry (PIR)
- Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC)