FYI Ahead of the official Council minutes the following motion was passed at the meeting today, 7 October 2010 and the GNSO Council endorsed Carlos Affonso Pereira de Souza as a replacement for Willie Currie on the AoC A&T Review Team. Motion to Respond to the ICANN Board on Vertical Integration. Made by: Chuck Gomes Seconded by: Adrian Kinderis Whereas, on 28 January 2010, the GNSO Council approved a policy development process (PDP) on the topic of vertical integration between registries and registrars; Whereas, in Section 2.11 (Vertical Integration) of the 25 September 2010 Adopted Board Resolutions (http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm)the ICANN Board inquired whether the GNSO has achieved a consensus position on the topic of vertical integration with regard to New gTLDs; Whereas the VI Working Group discussed many different issues, reviewed many different models and produced its Revised Initial Report, the VI Working Group has not yet produced recommendations that are supported by the consensus of its members; Whereas, on 29 September 2010, the GNSO Council Chair received notice from the VI PDP WG stating "to date the Working Group has not reached a consensus view on vertical integration"; Whereas, the GNSO Council desires to respond to the Board's inquiry; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT: RESOLVED, that the GNSO Council acknowledges that the VI Working Group is unable to achieve a consensus by the Board requested date of 8 October 2010; RESOLVED FURTHER, that the GNSO Council hereby approves the draft response copied below to the ICANN Board and directs Staff to forward the response to the ICANN Secretary. Letter October 7, 2010 To: Mr. Peter Dengate-Thrush Chair - ICANN Board Re: Vertical Integration Recommendations for the New gTLD Program Dear Peter, This is in response to Section 2.11 (Vertical Integration) of the 25 September 2010 Adopted Board Resolutions (http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm) in which the ICANN Board inquired whether the GNSO has achieved a consensus position on the topic of vertical integration with regard to New gTLDs. Please be advised that the GNSO Council was notified by the Vertical Integration PDP Working Group (VI WG) that it was unable to reach a consensus position on the issue of vertical integration. Although the WG has been diligently evaluating this issue for several months, it is unable to deliver recommendations that are supported by a consensus of its members by the ICANN Board's deadline of 8 October 2010. Sincerely, Chuck Gomes Chair GNSO Council The motion passed unanimously by voice vote