------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal for Public Policy Advisory Committee (PPAC) at APNIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Draft Version 2 --------------- Authors ------- Naveen Tandon Shyam Nair Yi Lee Introduction ------------ PPAC is a framework to institutionalize the private ~ public engagement within APNIC on matters relating to Public Policies encompassing all the facets of Internet. PPAC in APNIC is proposed to be a multi stakeholder formal advisory body comprising of: - Government Representatives – need to be engaged as they are the policy formulators and are responsible for steering and charting the growth path of Internet in their respective nations. They need to formulate national policy roadmap which supports and addresses the issues and concerns related to Internet. - Industry participants (Internet Service Providers, including other members of the eco system) of respective economies providing services under appropriate authorizations. They need to comply with the laws of the respective region under which they operate and Implement the policies. Any policy developed without due engagement of all the stakeholders may not yield the desired objective. All the stakeholders have been working to further the growth of Internet. Policies are getting conceptualized, targets are being set, and Implementation Schedules are made. However, the outcome of these deliberations will be helpful only if it incorporates the needs, requirements and inputs of all the stakeholders. Therefore there is a need to have a co-hesive platform where all stakeholders can provide the inputs, define the requirements, bring the relevant perspective of defining the policies and path forward. PPAC in APNIC will endeavour to be one such platform, whose role will be to advise APNIC on matters relating to Public Policies Issues for development of internet in the region. It will pro-actively advise APNIC on new policy / emerging developments in respective regions and will provide a platform to participate in all such developments. It will also provide APNIC an opportunity to participate in the policy developments of respective member countries. Industry inputs are always important for consideration in any policy matter. Government objectives cannot be fully met if it does not factors industry views. PPAC will suo-motu, engage with stakeholders of different economies for developing policies in the interest of the overall spread of Internet. PPAC will not be: a) A standalone platform representing only the Government or the interest of any specific stakeholders. b) Representing issues only of a particular region. c) Will not be working on majority principle. d) Will not take up a issue which is in conflict with national laws and regulations of the members. PPAC will be: a) A multi stakeholder group having representatives of both Government and Industry. b) Representing issues critical to the growth of Internet. c) Recommend policy proposals, which address all facets of Internet. d) Work on a consensus based framework for the growth of Internet. e) Provide a ongoing collaboration among all stakeholders. f) Recommend policies supporting the security and stability of the Internet. Assist in combating against mis use of ICTs. One of the key role of PPAC will be to provide advice to APNIC on issues of public policy and other policy matters relating to internet like addressing resources, privacy, security etc. PPAC proposes to consider activities and policies as they relate to the governments, particularly in matters where there may be an interaction between APNIC policies and national laws or international agreements. The Internet is a global phenomenon and opens huge opportunities for all economies. However each country as a distinct economy has different laws, attitudes, perspectives, priorities and policies. PPAC seeks to incorporate the diversity of these views in its advice to APNIC. Participation in the PPAC will allows economies to bring a perspective on the policies concerning the various aspects of Internet. PPAC aims to brings together a diverse collection of knowledge and expertise to APNIC. In summary, PPAC will…. - Provide an interface with appropriate inter-governmental organizations and other institutions on matters under their purview and related to the Internet community; - Advise all stakeholders in proposing ways and means to accelerate the availability and affordability of the Internet in their regions; - Discuss public policy issues to foster sustainability, security, stability and development of the Internet; - Facilitate the exchange of information and best practices. - Strengthen and enhance the engagement of stakeholders in existing and/or future Internet policy developments; - Identify emerging issues, bring them to the attention of APNIC and, where make suitable recommendations wherever appropriate; - Discuss, issues relating to critical Internet resources be it numbering or any other; - Work as an advocacy agency to help the govt. to make informed decision in overall interest of growth of internet. Membership ---------- PPAC membership will be open to all the Government, Industry Groups, Service Providers Multinational Organizations and Persons from the academic and technical communities. Benefits -------- 1. A multi stakeholder interactive platform to advise both from a Government and Industry perspective. 2. Provides opportunity for a cohesive engagement by all the stakeholders. 3. It will help APNIC leadership to get strategy inputs and advice about specific points and areas that need to be kept by APNIC top leadership in mind, while proceeding ahead to deal with the subjects related to specific purview. 4. It helps in providing an effective meaningful platform for relevant discussion on the steps pertaining to APNIC domain. 5. Avoiding any unilateral decisions by Policy Maker & other sovereign bodies as well as community. 6. Interacting with the sovereign bodies for effective improved communications & fine balanced decisions 7. Matching the community needs with the overall regional and International perspective. 8. Enhanced transparency, growth and development of APNIC as a world class organization. 9. APNIC is likely to instill confidence of the relevant sovereign governments of the sovereign nations in Asia Pacific. Such confidence and support from sovereign nations will be a great positive factor which will further contribute in the overall growth and development of APNIC as an international world class transplant organization. 10. Provide advice on the activities of APNIC as they relate to concerns of governments, multinational governmental organizations and treaty organizations, and distinct economies as recognised in international fora, including matters where there may be an interaction between APNIC’s policies and various laws and international agreements and public policy objectives. There are no perceived disadvantages of having a PPACin APNIC. The PPAC proposed at APNIC will be slightly different from the GAC at ICANN in terms of the representative stakeholder group it plans to incorporate. Situation in Other Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) ------------------------------------------------------ Responsible administration of a common public resource entails the active participation of many interested parties. The RIRs recognize the legitimacy and value of public interests in this activity, and have undertaken, and continue to undertake an active dialogue with various national and regional public sector entities on the topic of responsible Internet Number Resource administration and the relative roles of the RIRs and the public sector in this domain. Effect on APNIC Members ----------------------- There will be no perceived adverse effect for APNIC members with existing resource registrations already in the APNIC which is the Database. This will help the members and stakeholders to give advice through PPAC on how efficiently and optimally address numbering resource matters. Effect On NIRS -------------- The proposal has no perceived direct impact on NIRs, but impacts members of NIRs in the same way it impacts APNIC members as above. Effect on RIRs -------------- This is a great opportunity for APNIC to effectively seize the leadership and provide model for other RIRs by starting up with its own RIR PPAC. This example subsequently followed by other RIRs can become an effective model as a part of overall growth of Internet Governance phenomenon. Proposed Preamble of PPAC at APNIC ---------------------------------- Defining proper structure is quite pertinent for the sustainability of a Committee. Similar to the structure prevalent in other Committees, PPACPPAC at APNIC will have the following broad framework which will define the contours for effective functioning. I Scope of the Advisory Committee – Defines the Preamble of PPAC at APNIC. Anything which is ultra vires the scope will not be conducted by PPAC. II Meetings – Defines the levels, periodicity of meetings. III Agenda – Defines the agenda which the PPAC members would like to take up during the meeting. IV Membership – Defines the categories of membership and groups eligible for PPAC membership. V Observers – Defines the members / individuals who are appointed as such to monitor the proceedings of PPAC meeting. VI Representations – Defines who can represent a member in his / her absence. VII Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Other Officers and Committees – Defines the hierarchy within PPAC to conduct its activities. VIII Powers / Responsibilities / Duties of the Chair – Self Explanatory IX Election of Chairs and Vice Chairs – Self Explanatory X Conduct of Business – Self Explanatory XI The Secretariat – Defines the structure / hierarchy at the PPAC Secretariat and roles and responsibilities of persons in the Secretariat. XII Advise to APNIC – Defines the manner in which advise / recommendations / information needs to be communicated to APNIC and its governing bodies.