Dear All,

I hope you are doing well.

Please find below a summary of recent developments within the ccNSO Council, including highlights from the latest Council Meeting (#217), which took place on Thursday, 15 May 2025.

🔹Background and supporting documents

Council workspace for this meeting:

https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/D4wlBg 

ccNSO correspondence: statements and responses:
https://ccnso.icann.org/en/about/statements.htm 

Zoom recording

Agenda

In this opportunity, I would like to highlight the following topics:

• A new application from IDN ccTLD from Sri Lanka was accepted and it is a new member of the ccNSO.
• Special Council Election (Europe): Nigel Roberts appointed without election as sole candidate.
• Chris Disspain will be the new chair of the Triage Committee.
• Guillermo Lama will be the new TLD-OPS Vice Chair
• ICANN UA Expert Working Group Nomination:

A call for Expressions of Interest has been launched; selection by 30 May 2025.

🔹How we meet:

Here is a link to the document ccNSO worked on How we meet

 

🔹PGA Working Group:

This group ended the PGA Final Report and the council adopted final review.

The 3 topics that group will be working on are:

·       Maintain an Overview of policies, related guidelines and best practices relevant for ccTLDs.

·       Establish Study groups on IANA Public Records and disaster recovery.

·       Implement a Process to document and handle Gaps.

  🔹 Public Comments:

·       How we meet

·       RIR’s Governance

 – by consensus, no comment will be submitted, agreement to monitor impacts and engage informally with ASO.

·       CSC Changes for amending IANA Naming Service Level Agreement

A support comment will be submitted

 

🔹Budget Concerns Raised - FY26 approved Budget:

After the discussion at the council meeting, on May 15^th., a letter was sent to Xavier Calvez and Kurtis Lindqvist, regarding the ccNSO concerns on the recently approved FY26 ICANN Budget.

https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/adopted-icann-budget-fy2026-published-2025-en.pdf

The ccNSO Council and the SOPC expressed concerns regarding the recently approved FY26 ICANN Budget, noting a significant increase in expected funding and expenses—from $142 million in the December 2024 draft to approximately $150 million in the final version. Key issues include the projected 3% increase in transactions, a rise in staffing levels shortly after prior cost-cutting layoffs, and the introduction of major changes after the public comment period. The groups have requested an urgent meeting with ICANN leadership to address these concerns within the 21-day rejection action period.

🔹Policy Development ccPDP4-IDN and ccPDP3-RM:

ccPDP3-RM likely to be adopted by the Board at ICANN Prague.

PDP4 progressing at a faster pace.

 

🔹Priorities Moving Forward

• Engage with ICANN leadership regarding the FY26 budget.
• Continue advancing work plans across working groups.
• Support community involvement in active policy development processes.
• Prepare for ICANN83 in Prague.

 

Please  reach out if you have any questions or would like more information on any of the topics mentioned above.

Thank you!

Best Regards,

 

Laura Margolis