Dear ccTLD Managers,

On 31 March ICANN announced a 40 day public comment period on proposed changes to a Fundamental bylaw.  The main idea of the proposed changes is to move the reconsideration process responsibilities currently held by the Board Governance Committee (BGC) to the Board Accountability Mechanisms Committee (BAMC).

No other changes are proposed or anticipated at this point.

The announcement and background materials may be found at https://www.icann.org/public-comments/bylaws-bgc-2017-03-31-en.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US?

Because this proposed Bylaw change is a change to a Fundamental Bylaw. If adopted by the ICANN Board (which is anticipated), the Community has to approve it before it can take effect.  For the ccTLD Community, this means that the ccNSO Council has to decide whether to (a) support the proposal, (b) object to the proposal, or (c) have no opinion on the proposal.

That is why the ccNSO Council needs you opinion on the proposed Bylaw change.  The opinions of both ccNSO members and non-ccNSO ccTLD managers are equally important, and both are needed to help guide the ccNSO Council.

I urge you to review the materials that ICANN has posted, give some thought about the proposal, and inform your fellow ccTLD Managers about your opinion on the proposal, whether it be approval, disapproval, or neutral.  If you feel strongly about the proposal one way or the other, please consider submitting a public comment on the proposal, which may be done until 10 May 2017 at 23.59 UTC.

HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY GIVE ITS APPROVAL?

If the ICANN Board approves the Bylaw change, the ICANN Community will be notified, and a 30 day period known as the “Approval Action Community Forum Period” will start.  During this time period, the “Empowered Community Administration” (a group consisting of Community members from five ICANN Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees) will hold a public Community Forum, during which the Board will present their proposal and answer any questions that any Community member might have regarding the proposal.  It is expected that this Forum will be held during the ICANN 59 meeting.  If you find you have a concern about the proposal, please feel free to attend the Forum and express your concern.  Remote participation will be offered at the Forum.

After the Community Forum, but within 21 days of its conclusion, each Supporting Organization and Advisory Committee will determine their position with respect to the Bylaw change.

Read the proposal and make your voice heard!

Thank you!

Kindest regards,

]{atrina