Dear Colleagues We wanted to provide you all with an update on that status of the attached communication prepared prior to the recent ICANN meeting in Hyderabad. As you are all aware this was the topic of many conversations for the Council, as well as the Board, the GAC, and the community during meeting. Some of you may also be aware that during Public Forum 2<http://schd.ws/hosted_files/icann572016/60/I57%20HYD_Tue08Nov2016-Public%20F...>, (pp 90-92) Bruce Tonkin noted a common topic for the Board during the week was around how to handle the situation where the Board receives inconsistent information or recommendations or advice and used the protection of Red Cross names and IGOs as a case in point. The Board considers that there would be value in a facilitated discussion between the GNSO and the GAC to try to reach some sort of shared view point, and offered to make available the necessary resources to make this happen. Heather and James had an initial conversation with Bruce and Becky Burr after the Public Forum, in order to get a better understanding of what is being proposed. At the time the idea was a very loose framework at best and we have been endeavoring to set up a call with representatives from the Board and the GAC to discuss what is being proposed, with a view to bringing this suggestion back to Council for further discussion in January. Unfortunately, to date we have not been able to schedule a call. As a result we have not progressed the attached communication. We would prefer to wait until we understand the intent of the facilitated discussion, and how and when that would take place, in the event that the Council and the GAC agree to move forward with this approach. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available. Regards James, Heather, Donna