Grant

 

You will have seen Bruce's note about the GNSO review -- I am going to be responsible for putting that together from the ICANN side.  I am collecting some initial thoughts and would appreciate your input. 

 

Just to recap the timing first.  We have to have ready for the VCR Board meeting the Terms of Reference that will then trigger the review to take place in early 2006.  The exact timing is yet to be established but, based on instructions from JJ, I will need to have the report ready one month prior to Nov 30 to enable sufficient time to get the Board their proper papers.  That means we have August, Sept and Oct to get initial thoughts, first draft and final draft ready.  I will prepare a project map in the next couple of days that will include all these critical dates.  I will circulate that when we have the early thoughts phase completed.

 

As you know, the review is required by the by-laws and the LUX board resolution which means that we can use input from all kinds of sources to inform the questions which need answering.

 

I have put below the four sections into which I'm organizing early thoughts.  Your input into any or all of those sections gratefully received.

 

1. Operational - most objective of the categories.  Based on facts and figures about voting patterns, trends, participation rates, numbers, types and kinds of meetings.   (Glen is helping me here and we have just completed our conversation)
2. Effectiveness --  partly objective/partly subjective.  Need to look at time lines for consideration of issues.  Need to also consider, once policy is made, is it implemented easily, quickly.  What compliance issues are there?  What is balance between policy compliance and, for example, need for binding contract.
3. Relationships - partly objective/partly subjective.  Need to examine relationships with the board, with staff, with other SOs.  Need to look at internal relationships within the structure of the GNSO (are the constituencies representative, transparent, effective at demonstrating positions/views/diversity of opinion).  How does work get done; are the existing processes and procedures working and effective.  What measures should we use to answer those questions?   Need work here on identifying breakages in the system.  For example, should there be closer/more supportive/more direct staff intervention?  Should there be broader constituency membership to spread consultation mechanisms?
4. Perceptual - the most subjective of the four categories.  Need questions around perceptions of inclusiveness, transparency, attitudes of external bodies \ and internal groupings like board, staff and other SOs.   Measuring this (and then improving) is difficult but quite valuable.

 

I am particularly interested, from your side, to hear about representation, plurality of views, openness of processes.  I have been reviewing each of the GNSO constituencies to see how that is handled - each one is, of course, different!

 

At this early stage I am sharing these thoughts with Council members some of whom I've been able to catch by phone.  I will then bring those responses together into a first draft.  I am also using this model to seek views from the staff and others.

 

I will not forward your responses and you can expect to see anonymised thoughts put into a more formal paper for public consumption a few weeks down the track.  You can call me if you would prefer - numbers below.

 

Kind regards.

 

Liz

 

Liz Williams

Senior Policy Counselor

ICANN - Brussels

Tel:  +32 2 234 7874

Fax:  +32 2 234 7848

Mob:  +61 414 26 9000