Regarding your question about ICANN's lack of uniqueness: ICANN may have a unique subject matter, the upper layer of DNS, but in terms of organizational structure to obtain accountability ICANN is not unique at all. In many organizations accountability is obtained by having the ultimate authority of the organization, in ICANN's case this is the board of directors, selected by the public in directy or indirect elections. ICANN once had this for 5 seats (I was the North American elected representative), but that system, which was a success, was abandoned by ICANN and replaced by an ALAC that was intentionally designed (I was privy to many of the meetings) to ensure that the public would be kept at a "safe distance". Another way to obtain accountability is to analyze the jobs that need to be done and to create bodies of limited authority to perform each job. This is somewhat wasteful in terms of resources, but it does keep the bodies in check. I have written many papers on this topic and presented them to the ICANN, the ITU, and the UN, as have several other observers. For example, take a look at http://www.cavebear.com/rw/governance-structure-ITU-Feb26-27-2004.htm