Dear All, on 24 February 2002 the President and CEO of ICANN, Stuart Lynn, published a discussion document that -1- analyses the current problems and shortcomings of ICANN, and -2- proposes a new structure for a reformed ICANN. This document can be found at http://www.icann.org/accra/reform-topic.htm A first reaction by the RIPE NCC has been published on 1 March 2002, and can be found at http://www.ripe.net/ripencc/about/regional/icann-reform.html Furthermore, some (personal) opinions from the IETF Chair, Harald Alvestrand, can be found at http://www.alvestrand.no/icann/icann_reform.html All this is of the utmost importance to both RIPE and the RIPE NCC. I would therefore strongly encourage the RIPE community to read these documents very carefully, and start a discussion on their implications. It is clear that we are at a crossroads as far as ICANN is concerned, and that we might have a last opportunity to do it right this time. The status of the proposal is as follows: - the proposal was presented to the ICANN Board on 23 February - the Board discussed it on 23-24 February - the board decided to publish the document and ask for input from all affected parties - the board will at some time in the (near) future take a decission on restructuring ICANN. This will not happen at the forthcoming Board meeting in Accra I suggest to use this list <ripe-list@ripe.net> for further discussions. I will certainly use this list to let my own views be known. Best regards, Rob Blokzijl RIPE Chairman ICANN Director