Next Steps for the EWG Final Report on Next Generation Registration Directory Services
Whereas, in 2012, the Board
adopted a two-pronged approach to address the recommendations of the
WHOIS Review
Team, calling for
ICANN to (i) continue to fully enforce existing consensus policy and contractual conditions relating to
WHOIS,
and (ii) create an expert working group to determine the fundamental purpose and objectives of collecting, maintaining and providing access to
gTLD registration data, to serve as a foundation for a Board-initiated
GNSO policy
development process (
PDP).
Whereas, in 2014, the Expert Working Group on Next Generation Registration Directory Services (EWG) delivered its
Final Report [PDF, 5.12 MB] to the Board with its recommended
model and principles to serve as the foundation for the
GNSO PDP.
Whereas, an informal group of Board members and
GNSO Councilors collaborated and developed a proposed
framework [PDF,
612 KB] to provide guidance to the
GNSO PDP for the examination of the EWG's recommended models and principles for the next generation registration directory
services to replace
WHOIS.
Resolved (2015.04.26.09), the Board thanks the EWG for the significant effort and work exerted that produced the proposed model for a next generation registration directory services as reflected in its
Final
Report [PDF, 5.12 MB].
Resolved (2015.04.26.10), the Board reaffirms its request for a Board-initiated
GNSO policy development process to define the purpose of collecting, maintaining and providing access to
gTLD registration
data, and consider safeguards for protecting data, using the recommendations in the
Final Report [PDF, 5.12 MB] as an input to, and, if appropriate, as the foundation for
a new
gTLD policy;
Resolved (2015.04.26.11), the Board directs that a new Preliminary Issue Report that follows this
framework [PDF,
612 KB] be prepared and delivered to the
GNSO;
Resolved (2015.04.26.12), the Board commits to forming a group of Board members that will (i) liaise with the
GNSO on the policy development process to examine the EWG's recommended model and propose
policies to support the creation of the next generation registration directory services, and (ii) oversee the implementation of the remaining projects arising from the
Action
Plan [PDF, 119 KB] adopted by the Board in response to the
WHOIS Review Team's recommendations. The Board directs the Board Governance Committee to begin the process for identifying a recommendation
of a slate of Board members to do this work.
Rationale for Resolutions 2015.04.26.09-2015.04.26.12
Why the Board is addressing the issue?
This resolution continues the Board's attention to the implementation of the
Action Plan [PDF, 119 KB] adopted by the Board in response to the
WHOIS Review
Team's
recommendations [PDF, 5.12 MB]. The resolution adopted today adopts a
framework [PDF,
612 KB] to conduct a board-initiated
GNSO policy development process to refine the purpose of collecting, maintaining and providing access to
gTLD registration
data, and consider safeguards for protecting data, using the recommendations of the Expert Working Group's
Final Report [PDF, 5.12 MB] as an input to, if appropriate, to
serve as the foundation for a new
gTLD policy.
What is the proposal being considered?
Under the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC),
ICANN is committed to enforcing its existing policy relating to
WHOIS (subject
to applicable laws), which "requires that
ICANN implement measures to maintain timely, unrestricted and public access to accurate and complete
WHOIS information…."
The AoC obligates
ICANN to organize no less frequently than every three years a community review of
WHOIS policy and its
implementation to assess the extent to which
WHOIS policy is effective and its implementation meets the legitimate needs of law enforcement and promotes consumer trust. Under this timeline, the
second
WHOIS Review Team is to be convened in late 2015.
In 2012, in response to the recommendations of the first
WHOIS Review Team, the Board adopted a two-prong approach that simultaneously directed
ICANN to
(1) implement improvements to the current
WHOIS system based on the
Action Plan [PDF, 119 KB]
that was based on the recommendations of the
WHOIS Review Team, and (2) launch a new effort, achieved through the creation of the Expert Working Group, to focus on the purpose and provision of
gTLD directory
services, to serve as the foundation of a Board-initiated
GNSO policy development process (
PDP).
The Expert Working Group's
Final Report [PDF, 5.12 MB] contains a proposed model and detailed principles to serve as the foundation for a
PDP to
support the creation of the next generation registration directory services to replace
WHOIS. This
Final Report [PDF,
5.12 MB] contains over 160 pages of complex principles and recommendations to be considered in the
GNSO PDP. In order to effectively manage the
PDP on
such a large scale, an informal group of Board members and
GNSO councilors collaborated to develop the
framework [PDF,
612 KB] approved today.
What factors did the Board find to be significant?
The complex nature of the EWG's recommendations, along with the contentiousness nature of the
WHOIS issue in the
ICANN community
over the last ten+ years, calls for a very structured approach to conducting a policy development process of this magnitude. The
framework [PDF,
612 KB] provides guidance to the
GNSO on how to best structure the resulting
PDP(s) for success – that is, it proposes a process which leads to new policies
defining the purpose of
gTLD registration data and improving accuracy, privacy, and access to that data.
This
framework [PDF, 612 KB] creates a 3-phased approach to conducting the
PDP,
with Phase 1 focusing on definition of the policy requirements, Phase 2 focusing on the functional design elements of the policy, and Phase 3 focusing on implementation of the policies and providing guidance during an expected transition period during which
the legacy
WHOIS system and the next generation registration directory services may coexist and both operational at the same time. The Board believes that following the
framework [PDF,
612 KB] will ensure that the
PDP will properly address the many significant issues and interdependencies that require consideration in order to support the creation of the next generation registration directory
services.
The Board recognizes that additional resources may be needed for the conduct of this unique policy development process. The Board commits to reviewing the
GNSO's proposed plan and schedule, as well
as Staff's assessment of the resources required to implement this proposed plan, and to supporting appropriate resourcing for the conduct of this
PDP.
In addition, the Board believes that the importance of the
WHOIS issue, along with the breadth and scope of the many
WHOIS activities
currently under way, support the need for a designated group of Board members dedicated to overseeing the entire
WHOIS Program, including working with the community on the
GNSO PDP,
and any future transition to a next generation registration directory services that may emerge following the
GNSOPDP. Community members participating
in the informal Board-
GNSO Council effort to develop the framework for the
PDP also requested the Board's continued involvement in this effort.
What significant materials did the Board review?
The Board reviewed the EWG
Final Report [PDF, 5.12 MB], the
framework [PDF,
612 KB] developed through the informal collaboration between the Board and the
GNSO Council, and the Briefing Papers submitted by Staff.
Are there fiscal impacts or ramifications on ICANN (strategic plan, operating plan, or budget)? The initiation of focused work on
WHOIS and the creation of policies to support the next generation of registration directory services are expected to have an impact on financial resources
as the research and work progresses. Due to the expected complexity of this
PDP, there is a potential that this
PDP may have higher resource needs than other PDPs,
though the full extent of those resource needs are not fully understood, particularly as to the scope of those resources in comparison to the resources proposed for allocation within the upcoming fiscal year for this effort. The Board commits to reviewing
staff's assessment of resources for the conduct of this
PDP (after there is a plan and schedule developed) with a view towards providing appropriate resourcing for the conduct of this
PDP.
Are there any security, stability or resiliency issues relating to the DNS? This action is not expected to have an immediate impact on the security, stability or resiliency of the
DNS, though the outcomes of this work may result in positive impacts.
Is public comment required prior to Board action?
As this is a continuation of prior Board actions, public comment is not necessary prior to adoption. A public comment period will be commenced, as required by the
ICANN Bylaws, once
the Preliminary Issue Report is published by Staff, thereby allowing the
framework [PDF,
612 KB] approved today to be adjusted as appropriate prior to delivery of the Final Issue Report to the
GNSO.