Multistakeholder Model

A Multistakeholder Model is an organizational framework or structure which adopts the multistakeholder process of governance or policy making which aims to bring together the primary stakeholders such as businesses, civil society, governments, research institutions and non-governments organizations to cooperate and participate in the dialogue, decision making and taking action in providing solution to a problem or in achieving a common goal. A stakeholder refers to an individual, group or organization that has a direct or indirect interest or stake in a particular organization. It is affected or it has the ability to contribute or influence the organizations actions, decisions and policies to achieve results.

Characteristics of Multistakeholder Process

A multistakeholder process has the following characteristics:

• Involvement of stakeholders in the learning process
• Stakeholders work towards a common goal
• Works involve different sectors and scale
• The objective is focused to bring about change
• Deal with structural changes
• Agreements are created based on cooperation
• Stakeholders deal with power and conflict consciously
• Botton-up and top-down strategies are integrated in governance and policy making

The ICANN Multistakeholder Model

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is an example of a multistakeholder model organization. ICANN is composed of different internet stakeholders around the world and practices a consensus-based policy development also known as "bottom-up" model. ICANN's governs on the principle of cooperation and collaboration with the different internet stakeholders worldwide to be able to effectively and efficiently carry-out its responsibility as the international internet governing body.

The ICANN multistakeholder model was developed based on the inputs and collaborative effort by the global internet stakeholders in the White Paper, a detailed policy statement of the United States government on the Management of Internet Names and Addresses, which led to the establishment of ICANN in 1998.

ICANN implements the multistakeholder process through the following:

1. Regular meeting is conducted by the ICANN Board
2. The Supporting Organizations, Councils, Advisory Committees also meet regularly
3. Provides a defined Policy Development Process (PDP) for its Supporting Organizations
4. A public meeting forum is maitained by the international internet governing body

As the global internet governing body, ICANN's primary role is to coordinate the internet naming system worldwide. According to ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom, the ICANN multistakeholder model serves as the catalyst for the internet and he describes it as open, inclusive, balance, effective and international. During the Futurecom Information Technology conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he said that the multistakeholder model is aimed at "increasing the participation of diverse groups from all around the globe" and praised Brazil's decision to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach in governing the country's internet. He said, “It is an example of the Brazilian government’s wisdom in saying we want the private sector, we want the civil society, and academic leaders, Internet experts and corporations to come together and provide the Internet Strategy for the country.”

Debate over ICANN Multistakeholder Model

During the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), participants in the event questioned the effectiveness of the multistakeholder model in internet governance since the nature of the internet is diverse, complex and global. Many suggested that the management should be handled inter-governmental body. Others believed that the existing multistakeholder process is appropriate where all public and private stakeholders participate in a bottom-up process in creating internet policies. The ICANN's multistakeholder model was criticized by governments for two reasons; they lack adequate influence on ICANN's decisions on policies affecting the internet and the United States still holds undue legacy influence and control over ICANN and the Domain Name System(DNS).

In 2011, criticisms and debate over ICANN's multistakeholder model was again sparked due to the approval of the .xxx sTLD. Although the the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) strong expressed opposition to implement .xxx, the ICANN Board approved it. The European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda was disappointed and asked the National Telecommunications Information Administration NTIA to defer the implementation of .xxx. the NTIA responded that it will not interfere with ICANN's decision. According to the NTIA, "While the Obama Administration does not support ICANN’s decision, we respect the multistakeholder Internet governance process and do not think that it is in the long-term best interest of the United States or the global Internet community for us unilaterally to reverse the decision. Our goal is to preserve the global Internet, which is a force for innovation, economic growth, and the free flow of information. I agree with you that the Board took its action without the full support of the community and accordingly, I am dedicated to improving the responsiveness of ICANN to all stakeholders, including governments worldwide."

Another issue that posed challenged to the multistakeholder process was the 2012 new gTLD expansion program. Many organizations particularly the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight (CRIDO) and other trademark advocates criticized the program and asked the NTIA and United Congress to stop it during a Congressional inquiry. Once again the NTIA decided not to interfere with ICANN's decision and stood firm in its commitment in promoting the multistakeholder model in internet governance. The NTIA reiterated, "NTIA is dedicated to maintaining an open, global Internet that remains a valuable tool for economic growth, innovation, and the free flow of information, goods, and services online. We believe the best way to achieve this goal is to continue to actively support and participate in multistakeholder Internet governance processes such as ICANN. How ICANN handles the new gTLD program will, for many, be a litmus test of the viability of this approach. For its part, NTIA is committed to continuing to be an active member of the GAC and working with stakeholders to mitigate any unintended consequences of the new gTLD program."

ICANN Structure

The ICANN Structure is consist of the following:

• Board of Directors
• ICANN CEO & President
• Nominating Committee
• Technical Liaison Group
• Governmental Advisory Committee
• Internet Engineering Task Force
• Addressing Support Organization

1. Regional Internet Registries
2. AfriNIC
3. APNIC
4. ARIN
5. LACNIC
6. RIPE NCC

• Generic Names Supporting Organization

1. gTLD Registries
2. gTLD Registrars
3. IP Interests
4. ISPs
5. Businesses
6. Non-Commercial Interests

• Country Code Names Supporting Organization

1. ccTLD Registries

• At-large Advisory Committee
• Security and Stability Advisory Committee
• Root Server System Advisory Committee

Board Committees

1. Audit
2. Board Governance
3. Compensation
4. Executive
5. Finance
6. Global Relationships
7. IANA
8. Public Participation
9. Risk
10. Structural Improvements

President's Committees and Board Working Groups

1. Board IDN Variants Working Group
2. CEO Search Committee

Policy Development Process

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).