[liberationtech] Internet transition to private industry

[Sandy Harris]

Here's a message from interim ICANN chair Esther Dyson on the
structure as originally envisaged:
https://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/press/ICANN111098.htm

" four separate membership organizations: three specialized Supporting
Organizations that would each elect three Directors, and an At Large
membership that would elect nine directors.

" the Board has an unconditional mandate to create a membership
structure that will elect the At Large Directors

" Some remain concerned that the Initial Board could simply amend the
bylaws and remove the membership provisions that we have just
described above. We commit that this will not happen. In addition to
our commitment, the U.S. government has publicly stated that it will
maintain oversight during the transition period, and we fully expect
that the creation of a membership and the transfer of authority to a
fully elected Board will occur before that transition period ends.

As I see it, the process was subverted and the intended 9/9 balance of
board representatives of public & private interests lost. This looks
unrecoverable to me.