Two ICANN directors update their conflicts profile after .africa complaint

ICANN directors Mike Silber and Chris Disspain have updated their official statements of interest — used to identify potential conflicts on the board — after a complaint from a .africa applicant. The new SOI statement more clearly specifies the relationship between South African ccTLD policymaker ZADNA — for which Silber acts as treasurer — and …

ICANN Ombudsman says “no current conflict of interest on .africa” instead rambled much on Intemperate communications by bidders

“It is likely that this complaint has led to increased awareness of the possibilities of conflict of interest, which the Board will carefully consider in terms of the existing policy about conflict, when the issue arises. I consider this should continue to be a matter for consideration in gTLD decision making by the Board.” Wrote …

Tarek Kamel’s New Role: A Delicate Governance Balance within ICANN and African Stakeholders

Mr. Tarek Kamel is an Egyptian expert in global Internet governance issues. He is considered the father of the Internet in Egypt.  His recent posting came as a big break when he was appointed in August 2012 to serve as a Senior Advisor to its President of ICANN. Prior to joining ICANN, Tarek was a board …

ICANN ASWG Sponsors an Exclusive African-IGF Agenda with “AUC-DotAfrica Initiative” in Baku – Excludes DotConnectAfrica

DotConnectAfrica participated in the just concluded Annual IGF meeting but it reports a new development that curiously threatens its bid since a meeting that was exclusively convened and attended by its competitor announced moves to curtail its application. The IGF which is supposed to be a multi-stakeholder platform where discussions from all quarters are accommodated …

Alice Munyua’s term ends at GAC

From the recent communiqué at the ICANN Toronto, ICANN announced the opportunities for new GAC officials who officially take over effective 2013. GAC is the acronym for the Governmental Advisory Committee, which is a formal advisory body providing important feedback and input for ICANN regarding its public policy ICANN relies on certain advisory committees to …

DotConnectAfrica outraged about ICANN’s negligence on Conflict Of Interest Issues with its Board Members over .Africa.

In a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of ICANN, Mr. Fadi Chehadé, the ICANN Board Chair Mr. Crocker and a copy to the various individuals presiding over New gTLD matters including: Cherine Chalaby, Chair, New gTLD Program Committee Heather Dryden, Chair, Government Advisory Committee Kurt Pritz, SVP Stakeholder Relations and Acting Director of New gTLD Program Suzanne Sene, …

DCA Trust puts .africa new gTLD users and registrants first

With user affordability in mind, DCA Trust proposed the sum of US$10.00 as the registration cost per standard domain name in the new .Africa gTLD extension. …Whilst DCA Trust evidently based its domain name pricing criteria on affordability, UniForum on the other hand could be almost accused of inexcusable profiteering based on its exorbitant US$18.00 …