[bc-gnso] FILED: Business Constituency Comments on Potential Postponement of GNSO Review

[Steve DelBianco]

We filed BC comments on the EWG today (see below).

Thanks to Aparna and Bill Smith for taking the initiative on this issue.

--Steve

From: Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco at netchoice.org<mailto:sdelbianco at netchoice.org>>
Date: Friday, September 6, 2013 6:46 PM
To: "comments-gnso-review-15jul13 at icann.org<mailto:comments-gnso-review-15jul13 at icann.org>" <comments-gnso-review-15jul13 at icann.org<mailto:comments-gnso-review-15jul13 at icann.org>>
Subject: Business Constituency Comments on Potential Postponement of GNSO Review

Comments of ICANN's Business Constituency (BC) regarding Potential Postponement of the GNSO Review.

As business users of the Internet, we depend upon its stability, security, resiliency, and interoperability in order to conduct commerce online. An effective Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) plays a critical role in ensuring thatICANN can support the stability, security, resiliency, and interoperability of the Internet. As such, ICANN's bylaws require that a periodic review of theperformance of each supporting organization, including the GNSO, be conducted every five years.

The GNSO review required in ICANN's bylaws should not be postponed, for three principal reasons:

First, the timeline for the GNSO review is mandated by ICANN's bylaws. The bylaws should be carefully considered, respected, and amended as necessary. Ignoring or temporarily suspending compliance with the bylaws suggests that ad hoc processes are appropriate, undermining the community's confidence in its key structural documents.

Second, much has changed since the last GNSO review. More people than ever before rely on the Internet as a platform for innovation and commerce; indeed, the Internet has become an indispensable platform for many businesses.  The new gTLD program has blurred the lines between the discrete “silo” constituencies and bifurcated houses (contracted and non-) reflected in that last GNSO review and restructuring, making it more imperative that a review process be started sooner rather than later.  Thus, the actions of the GNSO impact vastly more constituents than they did in 2006, when the last GNSO review was commenced.

Third, the review has historically taken many years to implement. Given that we may face yet another lengthy review process, we encourage the Board and the GNSO community to avoid further delays in commencing the current round.

Accordingly, the Business Constituency urges that the Structural Improvements Committee commence the GNSO review without delay. Doing so will both strengthen confidence in ICANN's bylaws and allow the GNSO community to consider the impact of changes that have occurred since 2006.

--

Aparna Sridhar and Bill Smith prepared the draft and it was properly approved by BC membership on 6-Sep-2013

Steve DelBianco
Vice chair for policy coordination
ICANN Business Constituency
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