Dear Colleagues, I hope this message finds you well. As part of my ongoing commitment to keeping you informed about the work of the Governmental Advisory Committee, I am pleased to share an overview of the recently published GAC Communiqué from the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting. This Communiqué review captures key discussions and decisions that hold significance for the ICANN community, particularly for end users and stakeholders represented by the At-Large community. Below is a summary of its key contents that might be of significance to our community, allowing for further engagement: ________________________________ Key Engagement Outcomes Policy Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement :The GAC engaged with the ICANN Board on critical topics, including the next round of new gTLDs, domain name registration data disclosure, and the Global Digital Compact. Notable dialogues with the ALAC addressed challenges like WSIS+20 and DNS abuse. Interactions with the GNSO focused on improving data accuracy, enhancing privacy measures, and addressing linguistic diversity through Latin script diacritics. The GAC also discussed equitable resource distribution and DNS abuse mitigation with other supporting organizations. ________________________________ Strategic Initiatives and Capacity Building Diversity in New gTLD Applications: The GAC emphasized the importance of the Applicant Support Program in promoting global diversity during the new gTLD application process. Tailored outreach efforts and multilingual accessibility were recommended to improve participation from underserved regions. Long-Term Strategic Planning:The GAC’s 2024–2028 Strategic Plan highlights inclusivity, transparency, and efficiency in ICANN’s multistakeholder processes. Capacity-building sessions targeted regions with lower participation, underscoring the GAC’s dedication to equitable representation. See the full Strategic Plan here: https://gac.icann.org/work-plans/public/gac-strategic-plan-2024-2028.pdf?tim... ________________________________ Addressing Financial Barriers in New gTLD Applications Application Fees and Financial Support: he proposed evaluation fee for new gTLD applications stands at USD $227,000, with ASP participants eligible for an 85% reduction. However, the GAC expressed concerns that even the reduced fee of USD $34,050 may remain prohibitive for applicants from underserved regions. Recommendations to Enhance Accessibility: To mitigate financial barriers, the GAC proposed: - Increasing awareness of the ASP among financial institutions in targeted regions. - Partnering with development financing agencies to provide financial assistance. - Facilitating connections between applicants and financial supporters. ________________________________ Policy and Program Enhancements Resolution of Contention Sets:The GAC welcomed the ICANN Board’s decision to prohibit private resolutions of contention sets, including private auctions. Alternative mechanisms, such as allowing applicants to propose alternative strings, received GAC support. Further collaboration is expected to refine these methods. Promoting Linguistic Diversity:The initiation of a PDP on Latin script diacritics was endorsed by the GAC to foster a multilingual and inclusive Internet. This community-supported initiative aims to enhance linguistic representation in the domain name system. ________________________________ Advancing Registration Data Disclosure Urgent Requests for Data Access:The GAC emphasized the importance of promptly addressing urgent requests for domain name registration data. Discussions with the ICANN Board supported a dual-track approach: establishing response times for authenticated requests and collaborating with the Public Safety Working Group to create scalable authentication processes. Progress on Authentication MechanismsEfforts to develop law enforcement identity authentication mechanisms have progressed through collaboration with ICANN technical staff and the PSWG. Stakeholder input via study groups or expert panels is encouraged to address broader challenges in authenticating access requests. ________________________________ Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2) Review Proposed Updates and Regional Representation: The GAC reviewed updates to Internet Coordination Policy 2 (ICP-2) and encouraged African GAC members to submit collective feedback and collaborate with regional organizations. Additionally, the GAC stressed the importance of filling vacant African seats on the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) Address Council to ensure balanced representation. Strengthening Multistakeholder Governance: The ICP-2 revision aims to reinforce the multistakeholder model and uphold the role of Regional Internet Registries in maintaining a unified global Internet. ________________________________ The full GAC Communiqué can be accessed here: https://gac.icann.org/advice/communiques/ICANN81%20Istanbul%20Communique.pdf. It is a valuable resource for understanding the GAC’s work and its alignment with the interests of end users and the broader At-Large community. I encourage you to review the document to explore these topics in greater depth. As always, I remain available to address any questions or provide further clarifications about the GAC’s activities. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there are specific issues or areas where you would like more detailed insights or follow-up. Thank you for your continued engagement and support. I look forward to our ongoing collaboration to advance the interests of end users across the ICANN community. Wishing everyone celebrating a joyful and peaceful holiday season. May this time bring happiness, warmth, and cherished moments to you and your loved ones. -- Kind regards, Joanna Kulesza ------------------- Joanna Kulesza, PhD Professor of International Law Lodz Cyber Hub / University of Lodz Law School / Poland www.cyber.uni.lodz.pl (EURALO ALS 341) ALAC / EURALO / ALAC Liaison to the GAC