Overview 1 What is the NCUC?

The NCUC amplifies the voice of individuals and civil society organizations in the development of the Domain Name System and this area of the Internet’s infrastructure. We have real voting power in ICANN’s policy-making processes and work to develop and support positions that favour non-commercial communication and activity online.

Here’s how we do it. We:
* Mobilize civil society actors to participate in ICANN.
* Elect representatives to the GNSO Council, which coordinates the policy development process for generic Top Level Domains.
* Collaborate and interact with other stakeholders in ICANN on matters of common concern, including businesses, governments, and others.
* Develop and advocate policy positions.
Send members around the world to engage and participate in important agenda setting and decision making processes.
* Organize conferences and events exploring global Internet governance issues.

We have a proud history that stretches back 20 years. Our principled and consistent stances in support of Internet freedoms and human rights have allowed us to successfully take a noncommercial outlook on policy matters within ICANN today. If you would like to learn more about where we have come from, please read this essay by Milton Mueller.

Also, you may find the following videos useful for getting a taste for what our constituency stands for. And be sure to look out for these faces at future ICANN meetings!

* What is the NCUC? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O98MF9eZbo. Includes NCUC members Robin Gross, Wendy Seltzer, Kathy Kleiman, Avri Doria, and Milton Mueller speaking about why you might want to get involved in the NCUC (running time: 2:41).

* What are non-commercial uses of the Domain Name System? An extended interview with Rafik Dammak, former chair of the NCUC’s Executive Committee – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmdhr4P3kQA (running time: 9:04).

* What are the NCUC’s values? An interview with Bill Drake (a long term NCUC member and also former chair of NCUC) as he shares some tips and insights for newcomers to the constituency – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGRQSRjJQAU (running time: 7:32).

* A brief history of the NCUC and its origins. A lecture from Milton Mueller – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRlrqSyAibU (running time: 5:41).