Your opportunity to provide input -- collectively, and individually -- on ICANN's budget and operating plan for the next three fiscal years has begun. A public comment email list will be opened on the "Initial Operating Plan and Budget Framework" < http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-04feb08.htm>, and it will be discussed in Delhi at a workshop on Wednesday, 13 February from 16:30 - 17:30. Additionally, ICANN's COO, CFO, and I will be available to discuss the overall proposals, and elements directly related to Policy Development, with constituencies in Delhi and via conference calls afterwards. Please email me Glen to schedule a discussion. As I noted previously, a new approach has been taken this year to allow more time for community consultation and to provide a three year projection for ICANN's operating plan and budget. The process was launched four months earlier this year with the posting of initial proposals to jump-start discussions at the Delhi meeting. The proposed budget and operating plan is based on the June 2008 - July 2011 Strategic Plan < http://www.icann.org/strategic-plan/>, on which public comment was sought last year, and on the current operating plan and department budgets. A series of consultations and a public comment period will be held through March (approximately), and then staff will incorporate the input, as appropriate, and a proposed Operating Plan and Budget will be available for further public comment until mid-May (approximately). The Board is scheduled to consider and vote on the Operating Plan and Budget in June. ICANN's next fiscal year begins on 1 July 2008. Please take time to review these initial proposals and provide your input. Items that may be of particular interest to the GNSO include: - A revenue budget for FY09 of about $61MM. This assumes modest transaction growth, contractually planned increases in Registry fees, and factors in the proposal of the elimination of ICANN fee refunds during the AGP. - Increases in the new gTLD and IDN projects from a base cost of about $3.7MM in FY08 to almost $14.3MM. This includes expenses to complete the policy implementation elements, and the start-up expenses for going into operation. In the three-year projection model, total expenses go down by almost $5MM in FY2010 as these start-up expenses are no longer needed. - Increases in other initiatives from about $13.1MM to about $19.9MM, including compliance activities, registrant protection, infrastructure, and security. The deliverables are shown in the operating plan. - Increases to complete organizational reviews and implement organizational improvements, including funding operational and structural changes to the GNSO. - Increases in Policy Development support over the next three fiscal years, including funds to retain expert analysis to inform key policy discussions, and provide additional secretariat support to SOs, constituencies and Advisory Committees. Again, the intent is provide a rough draft to engage the community in meaningful budget and operating plan discussions that will help us produce a draft plans for further comment. I look forward to seeing those of you who will be in Delhi. Regards, Denise -- Denise Michel ICANN VP, Policy denise.michel@icann.org