Dear Colleagues,

As anticipated, the ICANN Board, at their 18 May 2017 meeting, adopted the proposed revisions to Article 4, Section 4.2 of the ICANN Bylaws. The revision moves the Board Governance Committee's Reconsideration Process Responsibilities to another Board Committee.  The adopted revisions to Article 4, Section 4.2 may be found at https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/proposed-amend-bylaws-article4-section-4-2-31mar17-en.pdf.

This Bylaws revision will trigger the first ever Empowered Community action, known as an Approval Action.  An Approval Action requires the assent of at least 3 Decisional Participants for it to come into effect. The ccNSO is one of the five Decisional Participants, hence we are part of the process.

Please familiarize yourselves with the proposed Bylaws change (reference given above), as well as both the ICANN Staff Summary of the public comments (https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/report-comments-bylaws-bgc-17may17-en.pdf) and the public comments themselves (http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/comments-bylaws-bgc-31mar17/).

In Johannesburg, on Tuesday, 27 June, from 08.00 - 09.00, there will be a Public Forum, known as the Approval Action Community Forum, dedicated to this Bylaws revision. I strongly encourage all ccTLDs to attend the Approval Action Community Forum (in person or remotely). Chris Disspain, who has championed this proposed Bylaws change, will be available at the Forum to make his case for why the Empowered Community should agree to this Bylaws change, and to answer any questions from the Empowered Community.

At the conclusion of the ICANN Public meeting (29 June 2017), a 21 day period, known as the Approval Action Decision Period, will commence. During this period it will be the ccNSO Council's responsibility to make a decision as to whether or not the ccNSO Council, and by extension, the ccNSO as a Decisional Participant, agrees with the Board's proposed Bylaws change, opposes the proposed Bylaws change, or cannot reach a decision regarding the proposed Bylaw change (i.e., abstains). 

A few days ago on behalf of the Guidelines Review Committee I circulated a proposed Guideline for how the ccNSO Council should manage its Community consultation and decision making process with respect to Approval Actions. I urge members to undertake a comprehensive review of the proposed guideline, as we are going to need this in place in order for the ccNSO Council to act.

If you have any questions regarding the Bylaws change, the process, or the proposed ccNSO Guideline, please do not hesitate to send them to the list or directly to me.

Kindest regards,

]{atrina