Participation Criteria

Participation in the Internet Technical Collaboration Group (ITCG) is open to organizations and individuals with demonstrated background, experience and involvement in the technical evolution and administration of specific Internet resources, and that commit to supporting the following principles:

  • Independence: We recognize that each stakeholder group is different, and respect the right of each stakeholder group to define its own processes. This core group, representing the community in dealing with issues of Internet governance, does not represent any of its participants individually, nor is it exclusive of the formation of other core groups.
  • Community: The participating organizations and individuals come from a wide range of entities from around the world. While each has its own mission and its own role to play, participants are motivated by a common vision of an open and accessible Internet that brings shared economic and social benefits to all the world’s inhabitants, now and in the future.
  • Transparency: The group engages with others transparently in Internet governance discussions.
  • Participation: Recognizing the importance of effective participation of all relevant stakeholders, and from all regions of the world, the group engages broadly to facilitate multistakeholder participation opportunities in Internet governance related discussions. In addition, its participants encourage the inclusion of experts who could represent the technical community effectively in Internet governance discussions.
  • Technical relevance and excellence: The contribution of our group and its representatives to specific Internet governance discussions will only be relevant to the extent that it rests firmly upon our collective technical knowledge and experience. We adhere rigorously to Internet engineering and management principles based upon common shared experience and rough consensus.
  • Collaboration: Acknowledging the importance of multistakeholder processes in Internet-related governance and policy discussions, participants of the group and their representatives commit to working with governments, national and international organizations, and all sectors of society to pursue their objectives in a collaborative and inclusive manner, while advancing a common goal of enhancing and exploiting the benefits of the Internet for everyone.

Requests to participate in the group will be assessed by the members of the group and agreed to on the basis of rough consensus. Participation in this group need not preclude participation through other avenues.