We are pleased to announce that APNG (Asia Pacific Networking Group), APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Center), APIA (Asia & Pacific Internet Association), APPLe (Asia Pacific Policy and Legal Forum), APDIP (Asia Pacific Development Information Program) of UNDP(United Nations Development Program), PAN (Pan Asia Networking) of IDRC (International Development Research Centre) and EIBA (European Internet Business Association) have agreed to jointly host a regional meeting in Singapore to discuss about the formation of new self-governance mechanism of Internet.  

This meeting is positioned as the third in the international workshop series, being organized by IFWP. The first workshop was already held in Washington D.C, on July 1-2, with more than 200 participants from North and South America, Europe and Asia. The second meeting will be held in Geneva on July 24-25 which will co-locate with INET’98. 

Following the release of the US Government's so called White Paper in June, a series of efforts to help create a new global, non-profit, private and neutral organization that will manage such Internet resources, as Domain Name, IP Address and Protocols by Internet community and respected stakeholders is underway world-wide.  

This meeting is intended to participate these efforts and raise voices and concerns from Asia Pacific region to the global Internet Community. The purpose of these workshops is to bring together the diverse stakeholder groups and experts to:  

1) learn, identify and articulate the issues,  

2) prepare models, set of common principles, structures and general charter provisions for the formation of "New IANA Corporation" or equivalent of that,  

3) formulate a process to bring true global perspective and participation to this new self-governance mechanisms by raising regional interests.  

Inputs from the result of 2 previous regional meetings (Americas and Europe/Middle East/Africa) are expected to be presented and shared.  

Already, a number of people from outside Asia/Pacific region has expressed interest to participate. They include: Mr. Ira Magaziner, Senior Advisor to U.S. President, Dr. Tamara Frankel, Moderator of GIAW, Professor, Boston University, and Prof. David Farber, University of Pennsylvania, European ISP Association, Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) and Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) to name a few. 

The event is scheduled on August 12-13, at the ANA Hotel in Singapore, and will bring together regional experts and stakeholders as well as key members of the international Internet community. 

We are seeking for more groups and parties concerned to join as co-host and participants of this meeting. We are open to constructive suggestions and proposals for the agenda, structure and topics to be discussed at this very important meeting.  

For more information about registration and program, we will post them as soon as finalized to : www.fwp-ap.ifwp.org (to be operational soon) and a number of relevant web-sites and mailing lists. Or please contact Conference Secretariat:  

c/o APIA (Asia & Pacific Internet Association)  
7th Story RELC Building, 30 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258352