Subject: n-1-4-900.01 Internet Society Board of Trustees Takes Several Key Actions by Mike Roberts The ISOC Board convened its second meeting at Washington DC on 10-11 December. The Board members took note of the remarkable continuing growth of the Society and the Internet around the globe. In order to deal with these developments, a number of significant decisions were taken, especially relating to the functions of the Society and its structure. In addition, the Board completed certain steps necessary to act as a fully incorporated organization. Functions and Structure. The Board considered the growing need for a coordination mechanism for groups and organizations connected with Internet operations; and approved a recommendation that the Internet Society proceed immediately to create an Internet Operations Forum. Many members in recent months have expressed a desire for ISOC chapters. In order to build on this enthusiasm and promote responsive local Society presence, the Board decided to proceed with the formation of local chapters. This action is required development of a suitable set of guidelines and identification of several initial sites for Chapters where various startup difficulties could be worked out with the personal involvement of the Trustees. An ad hoc committee of Vint Cerf, Jan Gruntorad (Czechoslovakia), Bob Kummerfeld (Australia), and Haruhisa Ishida (Japan) was established to deal with this action. The Board additionall approved a proposal that the Internet Society, establish an Internet Certificate Registration Service This is needed to implement privacy enhanced mail on the Internet. Internet Standards Making. The Board heard an extensive public presentation by the POISED working group specially established to review the structure and procedures of the standards making bodies, the IAB and IETF. That group concluded that the respective roles of the IETF and the IAB needed significant adjustment to reflect changes in size and scope of Internet standards work. The Board responded favourably to these recommendations by agreeing in principle to the changes, while examining further any possible legal considerations. International Organization Liaisons. The Society's President reported on recently transmitted requests to the International Telecommunication Union, the CCITT, and the International Organization for Standardization to establish cooperative and liaison relationships. This action goes hand-in-hand with the incorporation of Internet standards making bodies - the IAB & IETF - into the Society, and the growing importance of ISOC internetworking standards worldwide. Finances. The Board discussed the many challenges facing the Society in 1993, and the limited budget resources available to address them. The U.S. Federal Networking Council recently decided to reduce its funding role for administration of the Internet Engineering Task Force in order to encourage more broad-based support of this global standards activity. The Board supported the creation of a special fund raising target for 1993 of US$300 000 to begin this transition process. The Board approved a balanced 1993 budget of US$955 000. Conferences. The Board focussed on various Society conference activities - particularly the preparations for INET'93 which will be held in San Francisco on 17-20 August 1993. This activity is well underway under the leadership of General Conference Chair Eric Benhamou, President of 3Com Corporation. Planning for INET'94 is also underway. It will be held in Europe with the local assistance of RARE. Publications. The Board reviewed recommendations from a recent meeting of the Society's Editorial Board. These included a broadening of the publication activities to encompass external relations to the general public, press, and other international organizations; greater emphasis on developing the Internet Society News magazine; on-line availability of publications and other materials by the Secretariat; and deferral of publication of an ISOC Journal. Elections. The Board approved a resolution which establishes 1 July 1993 as the date for commencement of the three year terms of those trustees who will be elected in 1993. The Board adopted a procedure to shorten the duration of some of the existing Trustee terms, in necessary, to allow staggered annual elections. The Board also adopted a procedure for electronic voting which permits business to be conducted between the semiannual meetings of the Board. Board Meetings and Procedures. The Board discussed procedures for holding open sessions of the Trustees. The initial such session was held at this meeting to hear the report of the POISED working group. It was agreed that open sessions of the Board will be held whenever it is desirable to do so to hear views of the Internet community and other interested parties on subjects of importance to the Trustees and the Society. It was further agreed that open sessions should be audiocast and videocast on the Internet as such new capability becomes available and affordable. A written summary of Board deliberations and actions at each Board meeting will be promptly posted to the electronic distribution list of the membership. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board also adopted a resolution thanking Trustee Professor Hideo Aiso for his work, especially his admirable efforts as Chair of the Society's annual conference, INET'92, held in Kobe, Japan.