Proposed questions for ISOC Board Candidates

February 2024: Proposed questions for ISOC Board Candidates from Dave Burstein.

Introduction

To determine our vote, I think we should send each candidate a set of questions about the important issues facing ISOC. Suggestions welcome. Change freely but let's get them done

On Chapters & Membership:

• The Chapters Committee recommended that a small part of the ISOC budget, initially 3%, be allocated to active chapters to spend in furtherance of the ISOC mission. How can we make this happen?

• How can we bring in more involvement from China, between 25% & 40% of global Internet users? Also, from the Arab world.

On ISOC policy:

• Should most ISOC policy be made in an open, transparent fashion, openly discussed and reflect the opinions of the membership and chapters?

(Andrew has said some discussions with governments are most effective if kept private. That's a small fraction.)

• Should the interests of the global South, more than 2/3rds of the global Internet, play an important role in ISOC's policymaking and decisions?

• When ISOC is interacting with a specific government on policy, should the staff work with the local chapters whenever practical?

• Should there be a way for members & chapters to get involved when we believe ISOC policy proposals are a mistake?

On ISOC operations

• Except on confidential matters, should ISOC be as open and transparent as practical?

• Should ISOC - perhaps through a board committee - review all our programs to see which are working?

(Zero-based budgeting is a good way to overcome institutional inertia. We're spending money on some things that haven't been effective for a while.)

• Should ISOC payrates be comparable to other public interest advocacy groups in D.C.?

ISOC Elections

• Should candidates have a way to robustly communicate with the voters?

• Should all sectors be expected to seek diversity in nominations?

In addition

In addition, should we ask candidates for reelection to describe their record on these issues?