Hi Councillors - Below (and attached) is the September brief on GNSO activities and discussions. The GNSO council meeting is the same day as yours - I'll forward any information at that time if considered of high importance for ccNSO. Regards Patrick Myles New gTLD subsequent Procedures - Prelim issue report published<https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-08-31-en> (31 Aug) with a 40 day comment period. - Report aims to help council determine if a PDP is warranted as well as sufficient background information, suggestions on how to organise work etc. - Report includes a set of subjects and analysis including foundational questions such as whether or not the program should even continue. Others are more specific such as IGO/INGO protections, closed generics, global public interest etc. - Discussion on possible extension of the comment period due to time issues as well as the fact that the close date is shortly before ICANN54 (not considered ideal) - extension will be voted on at the next GNSO council call (late Sep). - Final report expected in November 2015 (assuming no extensions of comment period). Exclusive Registry Access for gTLD Terms representing Generic strings - ICANN Board requested<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/crocker-to-robinson-27j...> GNSO to include issue of exclusive registry access for generic strings serving a public interest goal as part of policy work on new gTLD subsequent rounds. - GNSO are drafting a letter noting that the issue is covered in the prelim issue report (see above) - GNSO raised questions to the Board on context/definition of 'public interest' and sought further information. - Background: The topic is due to the fact that some applicants in current round have sought to operate closed generic TLDs (exclusive registry access). GAC advice resulted in these applications being deferred and they are now essentially blocked in the system. Protection for IGO Acronyms at the Second Level in All gTLDs - Limited update on this topic since ICANN Buenos Aires meeting - Last issue to resolve is understanding of accepted scope of sovereign immunity for IGOs. The group are waiting on legal expertise in the area (ICANN funded) - Co-chairs were invited to a meeting between IGOs, GAC and Board to discuss IGO issues however could not attend (no travel support). Limited details on what was discussed there and concerns on outcomes which may be at odds with those from the normal PDP. CCWG on Enhancing ICANN Accountability - GNSO briefed by Thomas Rickert on progress and all encouraged to file comments. Thomas will provide further update to council once Board has given their inputs to the CCWG. Final Report from the Data & Metrics for Policy Making - Overview<http://gnso.icann.org/en/correspondence/presentation-dmpm-03sep15-en.pdf> of expected timeline on Final Report anticipated sometime in September. Translation and Transliteration of gTLD data - Council approved transmission of Recommendations Report to ICANN Board following public comments<https://www.icann.org/public-comments/transliteration-contact-recommendation...> on the Council's recommendation that Board adopt the Final Report<http://gnso.icann.org/en/issues/gtlds/translation-transliteration-contact-fi...>. Next Council meeting on 24th will discuss (selected) - CWG on use of country and territory names as TLDs - ICANN meeting format particularly in regard to meeting B - Progress on Development and Implementation of a Global Public Interest Framework bounded by ICANN's Mission - New gTLD auction proceeds: In early September ICANN published for public comment, a discussion Paper on proceeds from ICANN-conducted auctions for contested new gTLDs. Several councilors have raised questions about the scope and timing of the paper on the Council mailing list.