FOR DISCUSSION DURING TODAY'S CALL: Update on ICANN Board/GAC Consultation on New gTLDsby JAMIE HEDLUND on FEBRUARY 16, 2011We wanted to provide some additional information on the work being carried out by ICANN’s Board of Directors and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to prepare for their upcoming meeting in Brussels on the new gTLD program.As detailed in our recent announcements and blog, the Board and the GAC will hold a joint workshop to discuss the GAC’s concerns regarding the proposed implementation of the new gTLD program. Following the workshop, it is anticipated that the Board and GAC will meet for a bylaws-triggered consultation.The Board, ICANN staff and the GAC are working diligently to understand the GAC’s concerns and identify the areas of disagreement and possible solutions. Substantial preparatory work has been done, including the appointment of “issue leads” for the topics raised in the GAC’s Cartagena Communiqué, exchanges of draft issue papers and joint conference call discussions. The papers will be published prior to the meeting.Most ICANN Board Members and a strong contingent of GAC representatives are expected to attend.In addition to the Brussels consultation, the bylaws-defined consultation will take place on 17 March, the day before the Silicon Valley–San Francisco Board Meeting. Because of the timing of the bylaws consultation, the Board will not approve or announce the new gTLD program at that Board Meeting.The timing and substance of any subsequent Board actions on the new gTLD program will depend on the outcome of the bylaws consultation.Stay tuned for further updates on the logistics and agenda for the Brussels meeting.ShareT http://blog.icann.org/2011/02/update-on-icann-boardgac-consultation-on-new-g...