Here's a Policy Calendar for Today's BC call. (7-Nov-2013)

Channel 1. BC participation in ICANN Public Comment process:

ICANN Public Comment page is here. Selected comment opportunities below:

1. Draft Final Report on protecting IGO/INGO identifiers in all TLDs at top & 2nd level. (comments closed 1-Nov)

The BC filed comments last week (link).

2. Study on Whois Privacy & Proxy Service Abuse (reply comments by 13-Nov)

Thanks to Elisa Cooper and Susan Kawaguchi for drafting BC comments (attached) that we circulated on 31-Oct. Please REPLY ALL with any questions or suggestions before the 11-Nov deadline.

3. Revised Public Interest Commitments dispute resolution procedure (PICDRP). (reply comments by 14-Nov)

Thanks to Gabi Szlak and Anjali Hansen for drafting the BC Comment that we submitted on 24-Oct. (link) Still time to file a reply comment if we have remaining concerns.

4. Second Accountability & Transparency Review Team (ATRT 2) Draft Report/Recommendations. (initial comments by 22-Nov)

The ATRT2 just published its draft review/recommendations (here).

The BC offered several suggestions to the ATRT2 when they began in Jun-2013 (link)

Initial comments are due 22-Nov so we want draft comments circulated to BC members before 8-Nov.

Anjali volunteered to draft and other help is welcome.

5. Proposed bylaw changes for Technical Liaison Group

6. Thick Whois PDP recommendations (initial comments by 7-Dec)

The BC commented on the PDP initial report on 3-Aug-2013 (link).

Should we do another comment on the final recommendations?

7. ICANN draft for Vision, Mission & Focus for 5-year Strategic Plan (comments close 31-Jan)

This draft is output of April-September "brainstorming" by board, community and staff. (link)

Note: BC members are encouraged to submit individual/company comments. The BC selects topics on which to submit official positions based on member interest.

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Channel 2. Support for discussion and votes of our representatives on GNSO Council

John Berard and Zahid Jamil, BC Councilors. Gabi Szlak, Councilor-Elect

Next Council meeting is 20-Nov-2013, 17:00 UTC. Agenda and Motions to be posted by 10-Nov.

GNSO Project list is here.

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Channel 3. Supporting discussion/voting on matters before the Commercial Stakeholders Group (CSG)

Marilyn Cade, CSG Liaison

Procedure to elect GNSO Council officers

Planning for Buenos Aires meeting

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Channel 4. BC statements and responses during public meetings (outreach events, public forum, etc.)

Some topics that will be prominent in Buenos Aires:

Recent developments in global internet governance and the implications for ICANN and for private sector role.

Implementing GAC Advice on Safeguards and Exclusive Generic gTLDs.

ICANN plans to delegate Singular and Plural forms of same string, despite GAC advice and community concerns. The BC sent a letter to ICANN CEO and Board on 22-Oct (link) with two requests:

First, we request that ICANN publish any evidence considered by expert panels, arbitration providers, and ICANN staff in its evaluation of these decisions.

Second, we ask that ICANN publish more specific objective criteria used to judge string similarity, and then allow for an appeal system where applicants can challenge prior ICDR decisions on singular-plural TLDs based on this specific criteria.

ICANN’s latest plan to manage collisions between new gTLD strings and domains used in private networks. (link)