[rights] Clarification...

[Carlisle Adams <carlisle.adams@entrust.com>]

Title: Clarification...

Hi Brad, Hal,

On the RL TC call today, both of you challenged my statement that the Security JC would, in some sense, "control" the scope and work efforts of the various member TCs.  I didn't think it was worth spending time on the call discussing this further, but I did want to send a quick note to clarify my position.

I'm not at all suggesting that this control is in any way dictatorial; TCs are somewhat autonomous and can set and follow their own charters in whatever way suits their members.  However, the JC's job is to coordinate these various activities.  It is impossible to coordinate without some measure of control.  By definition, coordination means saying "how about if A does this, B does that, and C does that other thing, so that together we accomplish our goals".  If that suggestion is followed, this is control.  If it is completely ignored by all participants, there is no control and no coordination.

This is the only sense in which I meant the term "control", but I stand by that sense.  The JC is not just an information-gathering body; it is intended to be a coordinating body.  It cannot do this unless it is able to exercise some tiny bit of control over what the member TCs do.  In voting to become a member of the Security JC, the RL TC has voted to submit to some direction from that body.

Carlisle.