This is very good news. Is it possible to post Kurt Pritz's letter to the Registrars to the Council list, as well. I'd also like to add discussion of the resolution passed by Council to our agenda, under AOB. Regards, Marilyn Cade -----Original Message----- From: owner-council@gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Bruce Tonkin Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 2:49 AM To: council@gnso.icann.org Subject: [council] Registrars approve ICANN budget (2005-2006) Hello All, In the public forum of the recent ICANN meeting in Vancouver, Paul Twomey reported that registrars had not yet approved being invoiced for the variable registrar accreditation fees which make up the majority of the ICANN budget. The relevant section of the registrars accreditation agreement is shown below: (http://www.icann.org/registrars/ra-agreement-17may01.htm#3 ) "3.9.2 Variable Accreditation Fee. Registrar shall pay the variable accreditation fees established by the ICANN Board of Directors, in conformity with ICANN's bylaws and articles of incorporation, provided that in each case such fees are reasonably allocated among all registrars that contract with ICANN and that any such fees must be expressly approved by registrars accounting, in the aggregate, for payment of two-thirds of all registrar-level fees. Registrar shall pay such fees in a timely manner for so long as all material terms of this Agreement remain in full force and effect, and notwithstanding the pendency of any dispute between Registrar and ICANN." Kurt Pritz has notified registrars that as of Friday 16 Dec 05, 142 registrars, representing over 70% of registrar-level fees paid, have expressed their approval (exceeding the two-thirds approval required). Regards, Bruce Tonkin

Greetings - It is important that I pass on this salient clarification that was pointed out by the chair of the Registrar Constituency. Although staff reported in Vancouver that registrars had not yet approved being invoiced for their portion of the fees, it was also true that we had not yet been asked for our approval. The process that we use requires us to vote in a formal ballot run by ICANN staff. Without this ballot, there is no official way for us to voice our support, or non-support, of the invoicing mechanism for the budget. Once the request was received by accredited registrars, approval was ratified within days. -ross Bruce Tonkin wrote:

Hello All,

In the public forum of the recent ICANN meeting in Vancouver, Paul Twomey reported that registrars had not yet approved being invoiced for the variable registrar accreditation fees which make up the majority of the ICANN budget.

The relevant section of the registrars accreditation agreement is shown below: (http://www.icann.org/registrars/ra-agreement-17may01.htm#3 )

"3.9.2 Variable Accreditation Fee. Registrar shall pay the variable accreditation fees established by the ICANN Board of Directors, in conformity with ICANN's bylaws and articles of incorporation, provided that in each case such fees are reasonably allocated among all registrars that contract with ICANN and that any such fees must be expressly approved by registrars accounting, in the aggregate, for payment of two-thirds of all registrar-level fees. Registrar shall pay such fees in a timely manner for so long as all material terms of this Agreement remain in full force and effect, and notwithstanding the pendency of any dispute between Registrar and ICANN."

Kurt Pritz has notified registrars that as of Friday 16 Dec 05, 142 registrars, representing over 70% of registrar-level fees paid, have expressed their approval (exceeding the two-thirds approval required).

Regards, Bruce Tonkin