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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">Dear GNSO Council Members,</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">I would appreciate it if you could please review the attached “Discussion Paper on Next Steps to Produce a New Form of the RAA”. This paper suggests possible options for consideration by the community to move the RAA amendment process forward in a cooperative and timely manner.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">This paper was prepared in response to a request from the Board to categorize proposed amendment topics and summarize possible options for next steps. </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">The recent efforts by the GNSO Council to address some of the law enforcement recommendations demonstrate progress and are encouraging. There are many other proposals to be addressed. We believe that this paper can be useful in identifying additional alternative paths. To be clear, this is not intended to interrupt current work or advance ICANN Board or staff opinion in the policy discussions. The paper is meant to be responsive to requests for information. It is also meant to signal that there will be a high level of staff support to facilitate the development of RAA amendments and any related policy activities.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">Two additional points: You will find that the categorization of topics is not as straightforward as we all might prefer. As described in the paper, it is difficult to determine whether a proposal is a policy issue or is within the picket fence without considering specific amendment language. Finally, the paper indicates a preference for undertaking substantive discussion now, to develop specific recommendations for amendments through negotiation or policy development or both. </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">We hope that this Discussion Paper will encourage further dialogue in Dakar with the GNSO Council, the Registrar Stakeholder Group, and the ICANN community with regard to identifying an acceptable path forward. I am sure this paper is likely to raise questions also. I think an exchange of questions and answers is important to realize the full benefit of the thought that went into this – a writing does not always capture or describe all the ideas generated. Please direct those questions to Margie Milam, who will share them with the cross-functional team that worked on this for your consideration.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">Best regards,</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif"> </font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Calibri,sans-serif">Kurt</font></div></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">Kurt Pritz</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">ICANN</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">4676 Admiralty Way, #330</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; ">Marina del Rey, CA 90292</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; "><br></div></body></html>