Hi,
At its core, the value of the IETF is technical. We must always make
the best technical standards we can possibly make, adhering to the
values of rough consensus and running code. Everything else is
secondary or nobody (government or otherwise) will want to implement
what we develop. It's easy to lose sight of this in this conversation.
It's an advantage we have over organizations who vote by country, and we
will always have it so long as such votes are allowed and where the
majority of expertise is found in a minority of countries, or where the
voice of expertise is silenced through "representation". Because of
this approach, what happened at WCIT and at WTSA is likely to harm
developing countries more than anyone else, and that is truly unfortunate.
And so what do we need to do?
1. Keep developing the best technical standards we can develop, based
on rough consensus and running code.
2. Do not get overly consumed by palace intrigue in other
organizations. It detracts from (1) above.
3. While we cannot control others, we can and should occasionally
remind them when they're going to do something that when implemented
as specified would harm those who deploy the technology.
4. Invite and encourage all to participate in our activities so that
the best ideas flourish and all ideas are tested.
The other thing we need to understand is that the IETF doesn't live
without friends or in a vacuum. The RIRs, NOGs, other standards bodies,
and ISOC all are working at many different levels, as are vendors. If
WCIT shows anything, it is that these organizations are being listened
to, at least by many in the developed world. Why? Because over 2.5
billion people are connected, thanks to the collaboration of these and
other organizations. That's moral authority that should not be
underestimated. Nor should it be taken for granted. See (1) above.
And we also shouldn't try to boil the ocean by ourselves or it will
surely impact (1) above.
Can we do a better job on outreach to governments? Yes. I'd even
venture to say that the IETF should be held – from time to time – in a
developing country, so that people can more clearly see who we are and
what we do. But not too often, lest it interfere with (1) above. If we
keep building the best stuff, they will continue to come, even if there
are bumps along the road.
Eliot