Michael Geist Forum Quotations

Contrary to many published reports, the E.U. has not advocated a U.N.-controlled system. Rather, it has called for the creation of a new forum built on existing structures.

The delegates have found a diplomatic way to leave this issue for a future fight. The creation of the governance forum sounds much like WSIS itself: multilateral, multi-stakeholder, nonbinding, U.N.-created, and able to address a wide range of Internet and technology policy issues.

At a minimum, the governance forum certainly looks like the obvious method for continuing the work that WSIS started. Notwithstanding the creation of a review clause after five years, there is every reason to think that the governance forum will provide the venue for continuing dialogue on possible Internet governance reform.