Subject: Citizen Control of Internet Governance

From: Bob Allisat <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 07:17:56 -0500 (EST)

The single largest stakeholder
 utilizing the Internet is the
 hundred million strong citizens
 of all nations. Our homepages,
 WWW surfing and e-mail traffic
 account for the vast and over-
 whelming majority of net commerce
 and communications. And yet we
 are reduced to mere bystander
 status by technologists and
 corporate interests in any and
 all discussions of Internet
 regulation or governance. This
 situation not only must end,
 it must be reversed.

 So-called "Supporting Organizations"
 must be rendered as such and be
 removed in any final "consensus"
 from control or dominance. These
 bodies must serve as advisors and
 support staff for a group of
 representative, elected and fully
 accountable NETIZENS who work in
 public, with due process, under
 certain limitations and with clear
 power resting in their hands. 

 Any other conclusion only forestalls
 this greater outcome and invites a 
 heightening of tension to the point
 of extended and perhaps deepened
 conflict. "We the people" will claim
 our rights sooner or later, this much
 is sure. Let us hope men and women of
 good will all over see the wisdom,
 justice and necessity of Internet
 democracy and the folly of continued
 technocracy, authoritarian rule and
 secret decision making.

 Please visit <http://fcn.net>. We are
 developing our site as a centre for
 Internet Democracy and welcome your
 comments and additions. Thank you for
 this moment of your time.

 Peace,

 Bob Allisat

 Free Community Network _ [email-masked] . http://fcn.net
 http://fcn.net/allisat