IMPACT ON BOARD OF NEW GNSO
PROCESSES (GNSO LEADS: JONATHAN ROBINSON & CHUCK GOMES)
For Discussion – The need to amend ICANN’s
Bylaws if these new processes are adopted, with consequent impact on Board
voting/actions
BOARD DECISIONS CONCERNING gTLD
POLICY AND RELATED IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS (GNSO LEAD: BRIAN WINTERFELDT)
Question for Discussion - How does the Board
formulate its decisions and what is its process for making decisions? This
question arises specifically due to what the GNSO community perceives as
growing deference to the GAC on gTLD policy and implementation issues, which
could increase the GAC’s ability to drive gTLD policymaking beyond what is
contemplated in the ICANN Bylaws.
Specific examples:
-
Some NGPC decisions seem to be
based on subjective criteria rather than substantive objective information
(e.g. lack of international law basis for apparent GAC “veto” on the use of
2-character domains corresponding to country codes and its anticipated similar
proposal on country and territory names)
-
Deference to the GAC can be illustrated
by recent decisions on implementing approvals for release of 2-character
domains, based on GAC/GAC member advice/comments
ICANN EXECUTIVE/STAFF DECISIONS
CONCERNING gTLD POLICY AND RELATED IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS (GNSO LEAD: ??)
For Discussion - Community concerns that “back
door” policy is being made by the ICANN executive/staff without input from the
GNSO (e.g. imposition of URS in renewals of legacy gTLD registry agreements)
OTHER TOPICS (TO NOTE ONLY, NOT
FOR LENGTHY DISCUSSION)
Community Concerns:
-
ICANN’s growing maturity and
complexity increases burden of tracking multiple streams of work; beyond
volunteer burnout issues this highlights the need to recognize the pressures on
community time and attention
-
General concern about a number of
parallel activities and how they interrelate with one another
-
Concern over organizational
stability in light of the transition to a new CEO at this time
Concluding Question (if time permits):