ICANN has announced that they will be having a Special Meeting of the ICANN Board on 19 February 2010 (3:00 UCT) to discuss the “upcoming ICANN International meeting.” It is reasonable to assume that the 17 February 2010 security update will be a topic of discussion, as well as some of the bottom up community driven efforts to foster remote participation. Specifically, some of the contracting parties have been evaluating the possibility of participating in the Nairobi meeting through the use of teleconference facilities at a remote venue. ICANN technical staff has gained valuable experience in this area using similar technology to facilitate participation by ICANN Board Director Rita Rodin Johnston.

I trust that the ICANN Board will make the right decision balancing the obligations that ICANN has to the global Internet community, with the safety and security of those ICANN stakeholders that participate in person at these ICANN events. However, the ICANN Board needs to gain the trust of the global community in connection with this and other important decisions that it will be making. That is why it is critical that the ICANN Board begin providing audio and transcription records of its Special Board meetings. In fact this request for the ICANN Board to follow the same practices that it does in connection with its in person Board meetings is a subject of a recent Reconsideration Request that I filed with ICANN.

Under Rod Beckstrom’s leadership, ICANN has taken a number of positive steps towards increasing openness and transparency, particularly with regard to staff compensation. Providing an audio and transcription record of the Special Meetings is the next step that must be taken. As recognized in my Reconsideration Request, there may be some truly confidential material that may need to be redacted/witheld, such as specific security steps that ICANN, the local host and the Kenya government are taking. However, the community should be provided the same information and briefing on potential security threats and remote participation options to enable them to make an informed decision regarding their participation.