It's been in the Bylaws since the reform process. Kieren Baker held the title, but not the function, when he was ICANN's PR person. The fact that he performed press relations, and not public participation, speaks volumes about ICANN's priorities. (If ICANN will address the public interest, the bad press will go away.) The position is not mentioned in the Strategic Plan. It is not mentioned in the Operational Plan. It is not one of the 14 jobs advertised on the ICANN web site.

I make this point in the Public Forum, and Paul Twomey says he agrees.