6 minutes might transform the discussion on LTE-U/LAA & WiFi spectrum. Larry Strickling of NTIA “prefers the model of the Internet Engineering Task Force… we always prefer a model that invites more participation rather than less. … I think you’re making a good point. If Obama had a third term, I think I’d be able to work on it. ” Everyone laughed, but he had made his point. (full quote below) Larry is the U.S. lead on Internet issues like the ICANN contract and made a strong speech favoring multi-stakeholder and community processes. Vint Cerf and Laura DeNardis added strong endorsements of participatory processes.
At the end – 132:30 or so in the video – I asked them about whether 3GPP/ATIS should also have open participation, especially around the issues of LTE-U/LAA and Wi-Fi spectrum. These are far bigger Internet policy issues than anything ICANN is likely to do. At about 137: Larry addressed the issue, including mentioning he didn’t know the details of 3GPP. Vint spoke about how important it is to apply multistakeholder processes to technical discussions that relate to policy.
A moment later, Laura DeNardis spoke up. “I’d like to also respond to the issue of Open Standards. I am extremely passionate about this. If one believes that the process for setting the technical rules for the Internet is also a public policy issue, then having openness in that procedure is of vital importance.