Dear SSAD SRT Members, During this week's meeting, a question was raised by Anne regarding the use of MUST within implementation guidance. The EPDP working group considered this and included the following in the EPDP Phase 2 Final Report<https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/file/field-file-attach/epdp-phase...> (section 3.4 - page 16), "Where Implementation Guidance is referenced, the EPDP Team considers this supplemental context and/or clarifying information to help inform the implementation of the policy recommendations but the EPDP Team notes that implementation guidance does not have the same weight and standing as recommendation text to create policy." Generally speaking, when a Working Group or EPDP team provides Implementation Guidance, the group is recommending the stated action, and there is a presumption that it will be implemented. Because Implementation Guidance is not the same as a policy recommendation, however, ICANN org, in consultation with the IRT, has the flexibility to deviate from the implementation guidance so long as the alternative course is transparently described, has been carefully considered, and a rationale for any deviation is provided. With respect to SSAD supplemental recommendations specifically, if the SSAD SRT believes an instance of MUST should be changed to SHOULD or MAY, that is something the group can consider when modifying the SSAD recommendations. Thank you, Marc Anderson