At-Large Framework Formation

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On 26 June 2003, ICANN's Board of Directors approved a framework for the formation of local and regional At-Large groups to promote structured involvement and informed participation of the global individual Internet user community in ICANN.

ICANN's Interim At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) invites interested, qualified groups in all geographic regions to become "At-Large Structures." At-Large Structures will be groups throughout the world (either existing organizations or newly formed for this purpose) focusing on participation by individual Internet users at the local or issue level. Interested groups will complete and submit to the ALAC a short application form (available at <http://alac.icann.org/correspondence/structures-app.htm>). Groups that meet the minimum requirements listed below will be designated as "At-Large Structures."

When there are sufficient At-Large Structures in a geographic region (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America), these groups can form a Regional At-Large Organization (RALO). The five RALOs will act as the main forum and coordination point in each region for public input to ICANN, and will select 10 members of the ALAC. The ALAC provides advice to ICANN's Board and other constituencies on the activities of ICANN that relate to the interests of individual Internet users.

I. Minimum criteria for At-Large Structures
II. Certification process for At-Large Structures (ALS)
III. Guidelines for the form of each Regional At-Large Organizations' (RALOs) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be entered into with ICANN
IV. Procedures for Board review of ALAC certification decisions

I. Minimum criteria for an At-Large Structure:

1. Commit to supporting individual Internet users' informed participation in ICANN by distributing to individual constituents/members information on relevant ICANN activities and issues, offering Internet-based mechanisms that enable discussions of one or more of these activities and issues among individual constituents/members, and involving individual constituents/members in relevant ICANN policy development, discussions and decisions.
2. Be constituted so that participation by individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the Geographic Region in which the ALS is based will predominate in the ALS' operation. The ALS may permit additional participation by others that is compatible with the interests of the individual Internet users within the region. `
3. Be self-supporting (not rely on ICANN for funding).
4. Post on the Internet (on the ALAC's website or elsewhere) publicly-accessible, current information about the ALS's goals, structure, description of constituent group(s)/membership, working mechanisms, leadership, and contact(s).
5. Assist the RALO in performing its function.

II. Certification process for At-Large Structures (ALS):

1. Submit to the ALAC, in electronic form (provided by the ALAC), a completed ALS application (in English) and provide the ALAC with any requested documentation.
2. The ALAC will conduct due diligence, reviewing the application and performing necessary tasks in an effort to ensure that the established ALS criteria has been/will be met. This could include requesting references, interviewing the applicant's contact(s), gathering/requesting additional information on the applicant, and (for existing organizations) requesting information on applicant's leadership and operations, verifying general funding sources, and requiring the applicant to demonstrate the identity of their individual constituents.
3. Upon completion of its due diligence, all ALAC members will review the application and related documentation; the ALAC will then vote on certifying the applicant an ALS, with each ALAC member voting ELIGIBLE or NOT ELIGIBLE.
4. Decisions to certify an ALS require a 2/3 vote of all of the members of the ALAC and shall be subject to review according to procedures established by the Board. The ALAC will notify the applicant of its certification decision, and, if applicable, provide information on requesting a review of the decision.
5. Decisions to de-certify an ALS require a 2/3 vote of all of the members of the ALAC and shall be subject to review according to procedures established by the Board. Reasons for the ALAC to pursue de-certification action, and to de-certify an ALS, may include persistent non-compliance with significant ALS requirements. The ALAC will provide advance notice to the ALS in question, and the ALS will have an opportunity to be heard and respond to the ALAC prior to a decision on de-certification. The ALAC will notify the ALS of its de-certification decision and provide information on requesting a review of the decision.
6. On an ongoing basis, the ALAC may give informal advice and support to organizations seeking certification. It is intended that the ALAC work informally with organizations over time to assist with their efforts to comply with the criteria and achieve the necessary standing to seek certification.
7. ALS applications, ALAC decisions on applications, and other information, as appropriate, will be publicly posted by the ALAC.

III. Guidelines for the form of each Regional At-Large Organizations' (RALOs) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be entered into with ICANN:

1. Each RALO shall be comprised of At-Large Structures based within its Geographic Region that have been certified to meet the requirements of the RALO's Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN. There will be no more than one RALO in each Geographic Region.
2. Proposed RALO MOUs shall be posted by the ALAC for public comment.
3. Each RALO's Memorandum of Understanding shall include provisions designed to achieve robust participation of individual Internet users in its region. Prior to finalizing its MOU, each RALO shall provide support for their declaration that every interested citizen or resident in its region is welcome to join at least one of its At-Large Structures. A RALO may elect to also directly include individual Internet users who are citizens or residents of countries within the RALO's Geographic Region.
4. Each RALO must include a minimum of 3 open and transparent At-Large Structures based in at least 2 different countries within the RALO's Geographic Region.
5. The criteria and process for certification of At-Large Structures shall be included in the MOU. To the extent compatible with ICANN's stated objectives, each RALO may propose additional criteria and standards to encourage the type of structure that best fits the customs and character of various countries in its Geographic Region.
6. A RALO shall be an entity that facilitates informed participation of individual Internet users via At-Large Structures, with openness, participatory opportunities (enable individual Internet users to discuss and make recommendations on ICANN issues and activities), transparency (activities documented and publicly available on the Internet), accountability (demonstrate its activities and procedures comply with ICANN requirements), and diversity (geographic, occupational, etc.) in its structure and procedures.
7. Each RALO must acknowledge these requirements and commit to assisting with the submission to the ALAC of ALS applications from entities based in its Geographic Region.
8. To help ensure individual Internet user participation and the protection of individual internet users' interests, each RALO shall commit to periodically reviewing (at least once annually) the results of their cooperation under the MOU and, when appropriate, will recommend improvements in the MOU and make suitable proposals for modifying and updating the arrangements and scope of the MOU.
9. The RALO will define a transparent process for selecting 2 individuals from its region (the individuals may not be citizens of the same country) to serve as members of the ALAC.
10. The RALO will commit to serving as the main forum and coordination point for input from individual Internet users to ICANN in its region and to working with the ALAC and ICANN in conducting the following activities:
    1. Keeping the community of individual Internet users in their region informed about the significant news from ICANN;
    2. Distributing (through posting or otherwise), in languages appropriate for its region, news about ICANN and information about items in the ICANN policy-development process of interest to individual Internet users in its Geographic Region;
    3. Promoting outreach activities in the community of individual Internet users in its region;
    4. Developing and maintaining on-going information and education programs in its region, regarding ICANN and its work;
    5. Making public, and analyzing, ICANN's proposed policies and its decisions and their (potential) regional impact and (potential) effect on individuals in the region;
    6. Offering Internet-based mechanisms that enable discussions among members of ALS in its region; and
    7. Establishing mechanisms and processes that enable two-way communication between members of ALS in its region and those involved in ICANN decision-making, so interested individuals can share their views on pending ICANN issues.
    8. Periodic review: At-Large Structures and RALOs shall participate in periodic reviews (at least once annually) of how they are contributing to the ALAC charter and fostering informed participation of individual Internet users in ICANN, and they will contribute to the ALAC's reports to the ICANN Board on the structure, activities and results of the ALAC and the At-Large infrastructure.

IV. Procedures for Board review of ALAC certification decisions:

ALAC decisions to certify or de-certify an At-Large Structure are subject to review according to procedures to be established by the Board. The ALAC proposes that review procedures be established, as proposed below:

1. A request for review of an ALAC decision to certify or de-certify an ALS would be required to be filed within 60 days after the ALAC posts notice of the action on its web site. Requests for review would be submitted by email to xxxxxx. No particular form is required, but requesting parties would include at least the following information:
2. name, address, and contact information for the requesting party (including postal and email addresses);
3. the specific action for which review is sought;
4. the date of the action;
5. the facts supporting the request for review;
6. the grounds on which the Board should conduct its review; and
7. any documents the requesting party wishes to submit in support of its request.

The ICANN Board will appoint three of its Directors to consider such requests and conduct the reviews. The Board appointed review group will notify the ALAC of the request for review. The review group may request additional information from all parties involved in the review, as well as other sources. Requests for review and the Board review group's activities and decisions will be made public on the ICANN website. The review group may, in its discretion, grant a party's request to keep certain information confidential. For any matters that the review group determines not to disclose, the review group's decision will describe in general terms the nature of the information and the reason for nondisclosure.

The review group will endeavor to complete its work and issue its final decision within 30 days of the filing of the request; its decision will be made public on the ICANN web site.

To protect against abuse of the review process, a request for review may be dismissed by the review group where it is frivolous, non-substantive, or otherwise abusive.

**Applications and instructions for "At-Large Structure" designation are available at <http://alac.icann.org/correspondence/structures-app.htm>**

Where to Go For More Information

Here are some useful URLs:

List of ALSes and Applicants: http://www.alac.icann.org/applications/

African RALO: http://www.afralo.org/

Asia/Australia/Pacific RALO: http://www.apralo.org/

European RALO: http://www.euralo.org/

Latin America/Caribbean RALO: http://www.lacralo.org/

North American RALO: http://www.naralo.org/

At Large Advisory Committee: http://www.icannalac.org/

ICANN Homepage: http://www.icann.org