Thursday, December 23, 2004
Framework Convention for Internet Governance
Susan Crawford points to this recent call for the creation of a Framework Convention on Internet Governance.
A "framework convention" defines the playing field on which the international conversation will be held.
It defines the terms and conditions of the discussion. It lays out a framework to discuss, e.g.,
Who will decide?
In whose interests will the decisions be?
Will "Internet Governance" cover access and other layer 1 and 2 issues?
Will "Internet Governance" cover spam, copyright, and other application-layer issues?
Will "Internet Governance" be organized according to layers at all?
It will be a long process, and I am not especially optimistic about its success or about who that success might benefit.
However, it is good work, worthy work, and should proceed. It is a discussion worth having.
If it takes a decade or longer, that might be the right amount of time.
The most famous framework convention, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, deals with our planet's environment, the ultimate Commons. It was written in 1992, and it is the parent document of the Kyoto Treaty.
A "framework convention" defines the playing field on which the international conversation will be held.
It defines the terms and conditions of the discussion. It lays out a framework to discuss, e.g.,
Who will decide?
In whose interests will the decisions be?
Will "Internet Governance" cover access and other layer 1 and 2 issues?
Will "Internet Governance" cover spam, copyright, and other application-layer issues?
Will "Internet Governance" be organized according to layers at all?
It will be a long process, and I am not especially optimistic about its success or about who that success might benefit.
However, it is good work, worthy work, and should proceed. It is a discussion worth having.
If it takes a decade or longer, that might be the right amount of time.
The most famous framework convention, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, deals with our planet's environment, the ultimate Commons. It was written in 1992, and it is the parent document of the Kyoto Treaty.
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