From: vinton g. cerf [vcerf@mci.net]

[This was sent earlier in the day to a representative from UNESCO, Philippe Queau, and to the ISOC Board of Trustees for their comment. I would be pleased to hear from ISTFers as well. If you can make specific comments on the text that would be the most helpful. Vint]

Please find below an ascii version of a proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Internet Society and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The intent of this Memorandum is to establish mutual recognition of the two organizations. UNESCO may have specific mechanisms for this, which would recognize ISOC as a non-governmental organization. Phillipe, would Victor Montviloff be the correct part for this aspect of the execution of the MOU? May we have his email address? Don Heath, I assume you would delegate someone, perhaps Lynn St. Amour, to carry out the formal steps needed. It is my assumption that this action will carry no financial burden on ISOC.

We will assume that Axel Plathe is the administrative point of contact for setting up joint activities or informing ISOC and its various bodies of UNESCO activities of interest. ISOC will appoint a similar representative for information liaison.

ISTF would be the most likely arm of ISOC to participate and to that end, there is an effort under way to organize a working group of ISTF focused on the United Nations.  What I would hope could emerge from this MOU are specific activities, mutually agreed and approved on both sides.

I do not expect nor recommend that this MOU establish a wholesale program of collaboration on all UNESCO or ISOC fronts. To be effective, I think we should limit ourselves to areas of collaboration which really are mutually beneficial.

I will be interested in constructive comments from all interested parties.

Vint Cerf

(DRAFT) Memorandum of Understanding between the Internet Society and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

[version 1.0, 3-36-2000]

Purpose

The purpose of this memorandum is to establish mutual recognition by the Internet Society (ISOC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and to provide a basis upon which both organizations may undertake activities of mutual interest either jointly or seperately, but in a coordinated fashion. In any case, the memorandum establishes the intent of each organization to keep the other informed of activities likely to be of mutual interest.

Background

The Internet Society has interests and responsibilities related to the health, growth and continued technical evolution of the Internet. Under its auspices, four primary organizations undertake their work: the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) and the Internet Societal Task Force (ISTF). The IAB and the IETF look after technical standards for the Internet and the IRTF sponsors research work that is not yet ready for standardiation. The ISTF is a newly-formed part of ISOC and is focused on the Social and Economic impacts of Internet on a global basis. A number of working groups have been formed or are in formation from which ISTF expects a variety of outcomes ranging from specific actions to policy recommendations. The ISTF web site is found at www.istf.isoc.org or
www.istf.org

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has a long
history of involvement in global educational, cultural and scientific programs, all of which are described at the UNESCO web site: www.unesco.org. A recent addition to the UNESCO program is the tentatively-named "Information Society Programme" that appears to be of potential interest to many of the ISTF working groups. Among many other things, UNESCO has also engaged in technical training intended to improve access and use of information technology around the globe.

Specific actions:

• 1. ISOC and UNESCO will undertake appropriate formal actions (if any are needed)to establish mutual recognition  and to enable further specific interactions totake place.
• 2. ISOC and UNESCO will appoint liaisons for administrative and informational purposes and advise each other of the coordinates of their respective representatives.
• 3. ISTF will establish a working group for interaction with UNESCO as one avenue for together in areas of mutual interest. All activities of ISTF are open to UNESCO participants, without restriction.
• 4. ISOC and UNESCO will review their respective programs for education and training intended to further extend access to Internet, especially in countries where access continues to be limited. Where there is clear mutual benefit to cooperative work, ISOC and UNESCO will undertake joint efforts. In any case, both organizations will be alert to opportunity for mutual support of their respective programs.
• 5. Within twelve months of the establishment of formal ties, a joint review of the progress of this memorandum will be undertaken and the results reported to the ISOC Board of Trustees and to the appropriate body of UNESCO.
• 6. Additional actions will be undertaken as circumstances dictate and as mutual agreements are reached.

Termination

This Memorandum of Understanding shall have a duration of 12 months and is renewable annually upon the mutual agreement of ISOC and UNESCO through their respective representatives and with the agreement of the appropriate governing bodies of ISOC (i.e. its Board of Trustees) and UNESCO.

 
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