W3C Webizen Program

The W3C has developed in the open and in public, a program to allow individuals to affiliate with the W3C community for a token fee of e.g. $100 US per annum (or equivalent in another currency), in exchange for a package of benefits (with lower fees in developing countries).

This is not a Membership benefit and does not confer W3C Membership rights.

This program is currently known under the designation of Webizen --not necessarily the best name, so it may change based on a public survey.

Note: This page is temporary and will be replaced by a more substantive site for Webizens.

Goals

• Attract more stakeholders to the W3C community, including those who care greatly about the Web even if they may not be spec writers.
• Increase affiliation with W3C for this set of stakeholders.
• Get closer linkages between W3C spec writers, and the vast ecosystem that relies on W3C Recommendations.
• Increase general public review of web technology in general and W3C Reports.
• Provide a means for the general public to influence W3C agenda and priorities.
• Become a forum for discussing issues around W3C specifications, sharing solutions, providing feedback to W3C, and for W3C to share information out.
• Enhance W3C's stewardship of the Web.

Initial program benefits

• Name listed on Program page
• Annual CEO teleconference on W3C's activities and plans
• W3C Online Training discount
• Representation Groups

Representation Groups

W3C takes public input seriously so even without a Webizen program there are already mechanisms for the general public to give input to W3C, notably by commenting on publicly available Charters and Documents.

Webizens would band together to create Representation Groups (e.g. front end developers, accessibility groups, users, etc.), which would empower them by working together to comment on our documents and provide aggregate input that W3C would take very seriously; even if it is not a part of the formal W3C process.