1. Do you intend to support the formation of Regional At-Large Organizations (RALOs) as enumerated in the ICANN bylaws? Why, or why not?
If you mean strictly as enumerated by ICANN then the answer is a simple no, since this remains a top down structure which leads to nothing in the end. If you mean that local groups should become represented in icannatlarge.org and as such that this organization should recognise individual and group membership I would say yes, since I do believe that if this organization is being successful the number of members would simply be to large to maintain (think of sending out emails to 100 million people at a go f.i.) and the discussion would be impossible to follow, as well as the fact that language barriers would become more and more real and we thus have to look for a local organisation (or several, without prejudice) to be represented in a global organisation. However we better get something at all going because we are no where near reaching unmanageable numbers.

2. Which DNS issue is most important to you? What policy change would you recommend to the ICANN Board with respect to that issue?
DNS has many worries, as you know I have been a part of the WHOIS committee, in which I was calling in the desert on many an occasion (see the archives of the TF for that) so this naturally has a warm place, and reading the Icann-councel (staff) issue report on the whois published this week, I feel even more compelled to keep a close watch but also IDN's , alternative roots, ICANN (USA)'s rights? to control the GTLD alone is no certainty imo and related topics are of importance, after all we are talking governance of the internet here, which in no way is settled yet.
I already made several proposals concerning whois while on the TF, I will gladly post those proposals (or email them) to those interested and I would seek to keep alerting ICANN and others of those proposals.

3. How many At-Large directors should be seated on the ICANN Board? What strategy do you recommend to accomplish that goal?
The more the merrier, however it is clear from the present state of affair that we have a long road to travel before we have any influence on that and it therefore has a lower priority on my list.

4. Will you participate in lobbying the U.S. Department of Commerce to formally re-bid the ICANN contracts?
As a European I have little means to do so, nor am I particular interested in doing so, I do not really believe in keeping a whole industry going (lobbyist) on something that is by no means sure the US Gov should even be deciding. I also really do think that in due course this will proof to be the case as the "others" realize this.

5. ICANN constituencies are required to submit a new charter and statement of operating procedures no later than 15 July 2003. Will you commit to this same goal for this organization within the same timeframe?
As we are not an ICANN constituency and in our present state don't even stand a chance to become one, as we have not yet decided (the membership) if we WANT to be an ICANN recognised constituency, I think this would be a useless exercise.

6. It costs money to run any organization. How do you intend to fund this organization?
Gifts, sponsorship and when possible a (very small) membership fee, though I would want to differentiate the fee per country/continent. Again however I think we should get this organization working and incorporated before even thinking of that, until then the cost will have to be carried by some who can and appreciating people who offer support for free.

7. In your view, what is the mission of this organization? How do you intend to accomplish that mission?
To (in the end) represent a very large part of the users of the internet with the governance and maintainers of that same internet.

With kind regards

Abel Wisman

Age 45
Father of 2 daughter, one of which I raised more or less alone
Studied law for some time in the Netherlands, but did not finish this.
Lived in NL, USA and currently UK
Involved with internet since 1989
Active on GA, member of whois TF
Currently active as IT Consultant, mainly LAN and WLAN as well as WAN
networking
Also active as small-time ISP since 1996 (Grid 9 / Able Towers)

Sites for parts of business see sig file.

Regards

Abel