• Governance Ecology - Home Page

last modified August 23 by tomlowenhaupt

­What is the decision making process that decides who get's which domain name and for how much? How does .nyc link with the New York City community and the Internet's global oversight systems? This page seeks an ecology that will  facilitate relationships between residents, businesses and civic organizations, the city's elected and administrative structures, within the Internet's global oversight milieu; and for a structure to administer the .nyc TLD. 

 Good Governance Defined

Wiser Earth defines good governance as "the practice of decision-making and administering an organization, company, or public institution in an impartial, efficient, transparent, and fair way that is free of corruption and respects the rule of law."  

Governance Options

Governance and economics are intimately tied together. Some say good governance evolves from good economy, others the opposite. Perhaps they are both right.

Here are some governance options for the .nyc TLD. 

 Internet Governance Defined

The WSIS provided the following definition of Internet Governance, as interpreted and summarized by Bertrand De La Chapelle as follows:

"IG is the multistakeholder development and application of shared regimes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet". 

Here, Multi-stakeholder stands for "by governments, civil society and the private sector, in their respective roles".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

    Overview

    Here we're inventing a governance structure that enables a 400 year old geography-based community.  If thoughtfully developed, the .nyc TLD will be the central nervous system for a smarter New York City, integrating a global technology that's likely to connect every object, every thought, and every action.

    It is helpful to recognize that .nyc's governance will have three "life phases" - acquisition, development, and operation. Our look at governance options is toward the policy  setting and operations phases.

    There are several visions about the organization structure that best serves each phase, these include the traditional government, not-for-profit, private, combinations of these, and newer visions like wiki governance and common pool resource management.

    The selection of the most effective structure for each life phase is central to .nyc's long term success in serving the needs and dreams of the residents and organizations of our great city.

    Guiding Fundamentals

    In researching an appropriate governance structure for the .nyc TLD we observed the following:

    • In a digital era, a TLD will be as integral and important a part of New York's existence as our roads, subways, water, schools, libraries, and air.
    • Residents and organizations should have a guiding say in the operation of such vital resources.
    • Governance authority for the TLD's oversight derives from its users and those upon whom it has direct impact.
    • The ICANN, a California not-for-profit corporation established to operate the Internet's Domain Name System, will make the final decision as to the entity to which the .nyc TLD is issued.
    • City governments' role in the .nyc TLD's governance is scaled by the ICANN requirement that applicants for geographical TLDs are "required to submit a statement of support or non-objection for its application from the relevant government(s) or public authorities."
    • The competitive nature of the TLD market (one can choose a .com or from more than two hundred other TLDs), sensitivities associated with .nyc's naming operation, and the benefits derived from operating .nyc in the public interest, shade toward a measure of independence from the traditional governance structures.
    • The ongoing operation of the .nyc TLD will be guided by its governance structure, the relationship with the city's stakeholders, and its participation with the Internet's global oversight and development structures - ICANN, IETF, IGF, etc.
    • The .nyc TLD holds many of the characteristics of a common pool resource and its governance might be guided by experience of common property regimes.

    The .nyc Stakeholders

    With the .nyc TLD's operation intimately tied into the city's future, we take a broad view of .nyc's stakeholders and seek inclusion of the following in the .nyc TLD's governance processes:

    • Residents - Both those online and off.
    • Future Residents - A mechanism to provide for the needs of future residents is challenging with the answer perhaps to be found within the sustainability movement.
    • Businesses and Institutions - Particularly those with a nexus in the city.
    • Community and Civic Organizations
    • City Government
    • The Internet Community - With .nyc part of a global network, the Internet's technical community (ISPs, ICANN, ISOC, IETF) is another important stakeholder. 

    The Governance Ecology

    A complex set of relationships need to be created and maintained locally and globally. We envision three elements to .nyc's governance: a local oversight structure engaging all residents and organizations in .nyc's governance, an entity to oversee the TLD's daily operation, and a series of relationships with the Internet's global technical and governance communities. We refer to these relationships as the Governance Ecology.

    Local Oversight Structure

    The following chart shows a governance model derived in part on that used to oversee the operation of the cable TV public access channels. See Governance Ecology - NYC Element for background information and details on its operation.

    The-nyc-TLD-Oversight-Structure-2-jpg.JPG

    The Operating Entity

    Central to the .nyc TLD's success is a management entity that administers the policies and technologies that are fundamental to its effective and efficient operation. Connecting.nyc Inc. or similar public interest organization should be identified or created. The assumptions and experiences that led to the selection of this structure and the goals, plans, and processes for creating an inclusive and transparent governance structure are presented here.­

    The Global Element

    As a global technology, built on protocols and oversight structures that integrate .nyc with the broader Internet, it is essential that relationships be maintained with an assortment of organizations. Those organizations and relationships are found here.

    Research Links

    • Debian Governance - "the authors showed how a production community designed a governance system that incorporates a constitutionally endowed basis of authority with democratic mechanisms to ensure control by the majority, with shifting conceptions of authority and meritocracy over time."

      Related .nyc Governance Pages

      Key .nyc Pages

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