Hi Councillors Attached (and below for convenience) is my November update on GNSO activities. As the GNSO council call will take place several hours after the ccNSO call, I'll send through any further relevant updates in the coming days. GNSO Activity Update for ccNSO Council Nov 2015 The GNSO council meeting (agenda<http://gnso.icann.org/en/meetings/agenda-council-19nov15-en.htm>) will take place on 19 Nov 15.00 UTC (3 hours after ccNSO call). Below is a summary of current work as well as likely discussions at the GNSO meeting - any other relevant information will be sent to the ccNSO council list in the days after the meeting. GNSO Chair elections - GNSO chair elections (at ICANN53) between candidates Heather Forrest and James Bladel failed to provide a winning candidate obtaining 60% of the vote in each house. A new nomination procedure was subsequently announced with one nomination - James Bladel (contracted parties). The non-contracted Parties house confirmed it will not be nominating a candidate. An interview with the candidate will take place at council call and announcement of chair expected on 24 Nov 2015. Next Generation gTLD Registration Directory Services (RDS) to Replace WHOIS - Following the final issue report<http://whois.icann.org/sites/default/files/files/final-issue-report-next-gen...>, a motion to adopt a charter was deferred during ICANN Dublin meeting and now on agenda for approval on 19 Nov 2015 - Once approved (likely) there will be a call for volunteers initiated on 4 January 2016. - The PDP WG will be tasked with analysing the purpose of collecting, maintaining and providing access to gTLD registration data and considering safeguards for protecting that data, determining if and why a next-generation Registration Directory Service (RDS) is needed to replace WHOIS, and creating policies and coexistence and implementation guidance to meet those needs. More information<http://gnso.icann.org/en/drafts/whois-ng-gtld-rds-charter-07oct15-en.pdf> GNSO liaison to the ccNSO - Keith Drazek (SOI<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosoi/Keith+Drazek+SOI>) was nominated as the GNSO liaison to the ccNSO (replacing Thomas Rickert). ICANN Accountability - GNSO allocated 25 mins for this topic and expect to receive an update on the progress from Thomas Rickert to determine how best to ensure comments/ inputs from Stakeholder Groups and Constituencies are submitted and considered. More detail will follow after the meeting should it be relevant. 2 letter strings at second level - The Registry SG group wrote to the Board (9 Nov 2015) reiterating a position on the release of 2 letter strings at the second level. They note that Registry agreements have 2 grounds for release: agreement by country, or, permission of ICANN subject to measures to deal with confusion with relevant country code. It's worth noting that only one of these grounds needs to be meet in order to release 2 letter second level domains. The letter also states that government objections should be considered and not accepted as a matter of course as well as that comments from GAC which do not address confusion have no place in the process. The Registry SG also pushed that ICANN use the agreed process<https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2015-10-06-en> and not 'bow to government pressure'. Other topics and recent activities - Request from ICANN Board concerning possible policy work on Exclusive Registry Access to Generic Strings - Stakeholder Groups and Constituencies encouraged to provide input, ideas and suggestions, about the GNSO related meetings as part of the new ICANN Meeting Strategy - GNSO gathering candidates<https://www.icann.org/resources/reviews/aoc/cct/applications> for ICANN's Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice Review Team. GNSO Council is expected to consider which candidates to endorse as 'representative of their bodies' - GNSO received letter (to both ccNSO and GNSO) on issue of overlaps between CCWG UCTN and their own group on protection of geographic names. - GNSO expressed interest in getting early security information on upcoming ICANN meetings starting with next meeting in Marrakesh. The intention is to make this briefing a standard agenda item for all future ICANN Public Meetings - Request from ICANN Board concerning possible policy work on Replacement Insurance Requirements for ICANN-accredited Registrars Regards [cid:image003.png@01D121F4.CDEA8290] Patrick Myles Information Manager CENTR - Belliardstraat 20, 1040 Brussels, Belgium tel +32 2 627 55 50 www.centr.org<http://www.centr.org/> - Twitter<https://twitter.com/CENTRnews> - Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/centrnews> - LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/centr> - Skype: pat_centr
