All, During our after-action meeting in Mexico City, several of you suggested that we update the ICANN glossary to add some basic terms that we refer to frequently but that are missing currently from that compendium http://www.icann.org/en/general/glossary.htm . Definitions have been developed for the terms that were identified by Council members (copied below for your reference, note also an updated definition of WHOIS has been prepared). These definitions are currently being translated and they will be added to the glossary when the translations are complete. ICANN's Corporate Affairs department will be updating the glossary more broadly in the upcoming weeks. We will also be adding a link to the glossary from the GNSO home page, http://gnso.icann.org/ . This was also suggested in the Mexico meeting. Thanks, Liz PDP - Policy Development Process A set of formal steps, as defined in the ICANN bylaws, to guide the initiation, internal and external review, timing and approval of policies needed to coordinate the global Internet's system of unique identifiers. Operations Steering Committee The Operations Steering Committee (OSC) coordinates, recommends and reviews changes to certain operational activities of the GNSO and its constituencies with a view to efficient outcomes. These operational activity areas cover GNSO operations, Stakeholder Group and Constituency operations, and communications with GNSO and between GNSO and other ICANN structures. Policy Process Steering Committee The Policy Process Steering Committee (PPSC) reviews and recommends processes used within the GNSO for developing policy, including the use of Working Groups, and recommending any changes. Registry Services Evaluation Process The Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP) is ICANN's process for evaluating proposed gTLD registry services or contractual modifications for security, stability or competition issues. Further information on RSEP is available at http://www.icann.org/en/registries/rsep/. WHOIS WHOIS (pronounced "who is"; not an acronym) An Internet protocol that is used to query databases to obtain information about the registration of a domain name (or IP address). The WHOIS protocol was originally specified in RFC 954 <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc954.txt>, published in 1985. The current specification is documented in RFC 3912 <http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3912.txt>. ICANN's gTLD agreements require registries and registrars to offer an interactive web page and a port 43 WHOIS service providing free public access to data on registered names. Such data is commonly referred to as "WHOIS data," and includes elements such as the domain registration creation and expiration dates, nameservers, and contact information for the registrant and designated administrative and technical contacts. WHOIS services are typically used to identify domain holders for business purposes and to identify parties who are able to correct technical problems associated with the registered domain.