My name is Robert Hall and I am the Chair of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) which will set policy for, and operate the .ca domain name. As well, I have been the vice-chair of the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP), Canada�s national association of ISP�s, for the last 4 years.
I have been involved in domain related activities since early 1994. I have participated in more recent activities such as the IFWP hearings, and the ICANN formation process. I have also had the pleasure of being invited to speak and offer opinion before the US Department of Commerce on what should be done with their .us domain, following a long process in Canada to determine how best to operate our own .ca domain.
Specifically in relation to ICANN, I have had the pleasure of working with Dennis Jennings on the creation of the DNSO. I also had the privilege of drafting the initial bylaws for our ccTLD constituency and submitting them to ICANN. These bylaws, together with Dennis�s and William�s documents, became the current set of bylaws we operate under today. I also currently sit on our constituencies administrative committee as the representative from North America and I am the regional rep on the wwTLD.
I believe that ICANN, and indeed the Internet, is at a very critical juncture. It is vitally important that the DNSO and the names council proceed with a mixture of both haste and caution. They must balance the need to move quickly with the necessity to carefully think through any recommendations. They must not simply allow a few special interests or loud voices to undo years of stability that the Internet has enjoyed.
As ccTLDer�s, we have been largely responsible for this stability. I feel it is important that we continue to have a strong voice in any recommendations or changes ICANN plans to make. Perhaps Dennis summed it up best with his statement �We are ICANN�. We must ensure that ICANN does what is both in the best interest of the entire Internet, as well as ccTLD�s, the backbone of the domain name system on the Internet.
If elected, I plan to do exactly this. I will represent the interests of ALL ccTLD�s on the names council. I will vigorously put fourth our comments and ideas and I will work hard within the constituency to formulate our consensus on any matters brought before the names council.
A more complete bio is available at www.echelon.ca/rob/bio.html . Should you ever have any questions for me, please feel free to direct them to me at rob@echelon.ca. I look forward to getting to know each one of you.
I respectfully ask for your support in the upcoming election.
Rob Hall.