The GNSO Council has voted to move forward with a PDP on vertical
integration.
The
Resolution is below. I introduced the original motion, which had been drafted
by Margie Milam of Staff. The text voted upon was written by Mary Wong,
and was accepted by me as a friendly amendment on the last day.
This is consistent with the BC’s position on this issue. It is hoped that
Staff will agree with our position, that the ‘status quo’ should remain as in
the com/net/org contracts for the new TLD registry contracts, unless and until
policy is developed by the Council and adopted by the Board – rather than
imposed by Staff. If so, then policy could develop to loosen the
restrictions later, or keep them the same. If they loosen the
restrictions now, and later policy is developed or desired which would tighten
them, then it seemingly would be very difficult to implement. That would
be bad precedent, and we won’t know for years whether it is bad policy.
Notably,
the entire Contracted Party House voted against a PDP. I understand that
many are happy with the Staff recommendation for newTLDs, and many fear delay to
the new TLD program. In our house, the vote was 11-2 in favor. The motion
passed because it had more than 66% of votes in our House in favor. (The ISPs
were the two votes against.) Because of absentee voting, the vote has just
become final.
I
need to post by the 9th the names of any volunteers to the drafting team that
will draft the WG charter. Please send me your name if you're
interested. If no other volunteers, then I can work on the charter
drafting team, but we really need other volunteers to participate actively in
the Working Group that will be chartered to complete its work within sixteen
weeks. So, please help if you can.
Thanks!
-*-
Whereas,
on 24 September 2009, the GNSO Council requested ICANN Staff to prepare an
Issues Report on the topic of vertical integration between registries and
registrars;
Whereas,
on 11 December 2009, the Issues Report on vertical integration between
registries and registrars was delivered to the GNSO Council;
Whereas,
the Issues Report includes recommendations that the GNSO Council delay the
initiation of a Policy Development Process (PDP) on the issue for a period of
1-2 years;
Whereas,
notwithstanding the recommendations in the Issues Report, the GNSO Council has
decided to initiate a PDP on vertical integration between registries and
registrars; and
Whereas,
the GNSO Council has decided against initiating a Task Force as defined in the
ICANN Bylaws;
Now
therefore, be it:
RESOLVED,
that the GNSO Council has reviewed the recommendations contained in the Issues Report,
and nonetheless approves the initiation of a PDP on the topic of vertical
integration between registries and registrars;
FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the PDP shall evaluate which policy recommendations, if any,
should be developed on the topic of vertical integration between registrars and
registries affecting both new gTLDs and existing gTLDs, as may be possible
under existing contracts and as allowed under the ICANN Bylaws;
FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the GNSO Council shall convene a Working Group to fulfill the
requirements of the PDP, including a review of ICANN Staff’s prior work with
respect to vertical integration, and develop recommendations accordingly; and
FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Working Group shall deliver its Final Report to the GNSO
Council no later than sixteen weeks from the date of this resolution.
Mike Rodenbaugh
RODENBAUGH LAW
tel/fax: +1 (415) 738-8087