[ALT-Plus] ICANN Board resolution approving the At-Large Review Implementation Plan (27 Jan 2019)

[Maureen Hilyard]

Consideration of the At-Large Advisory Committee Detailed Implementation
Plan



Whereas, ICANN Bylaws Article IV, Section 4.4 calls on the ICANN Board to
“cause a periodic review of the performance and operation of each
Supporting Organization, each Supporting Organization Council, each
Advisory Committee (other than the Governmental Advisory Committee), and
the Nominating Committee by an entity or entities independent of the
organization under review.



The goal of the review, to be undertaken pursuant to such criteria and
standards as the Board shall direct, shall be to determine (i) whether that
organization has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure,and (ii) if
so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve
its effectiveness.”



Whereas, the independent examiner of the At-Large Review produced a Final
Report in February 2017. That report was received by the Board in June
2018, and at the same time the Board accepted the At-Large Review
Recommendations Feasibility Assessment & Implementation Plan and the
At-Large Review Implementation Overview Proposal as approved by the ALAC.



Whereas, in response to that June 2018 resolution, the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group was created. That Working Group developed and
approved the At-Large Review Implementation Plan (the “Implementation
Plan”) on 19 November 2018, which was endorsed by the ALAC endorsement on
27 November 2018.



Resolved (2019.01.27.xx), the Board acknowledges the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group’s work and thanks the members of that Working
Group for their efforts.



Resolved (2019.01.27.xx), the Board accepts the At-Large Review
Implementation Plan, including the phased approach contained within. The
Board acknowledges that more details with regard to implementation details
may be required for implementation of Priorities 2 and 3 activities.



Resolved (2019.01.27.xx), the Board directs the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group to provide updates to the OEC every six
months. Those bi-annual updates shall identify achievements as measured
against the existing  implementation plan, as well as details on future
implementation plans. It is during these updates that the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group shall provide more details on implementation
progress, and measurability. The OEC may request interim briefings if
deemed necessary.



Resolved (2019.01.27.xx), that any budgetary implications of the At-Large
Review implementation shall be considered as part of the applicable annual
budgeting processes.



Rationale for Resolutions 2019.01.27.xx – 2019.01.27.xx



To ensure ICANN's multistakeholder model remains transparent and
accountable, and to improve its performance, ICANN organizes independent
reviews of its supporting organizations and advisory committees as
prescribed in Article IV Section 4.4 of the ICANN Bylaws. The second
At-Large started in 2016 and the independent examiner presented its Final
Report in May 2017.



The At-Large Review Implementation recommendations as noted in the At-Large
Review Implementation Overview Proposal have the potential to advance
ICANN's transparency and accountability objectives and have been considered
carefully by the Board’s Organizational Effectiveness Committee as well as
by the full Board.



The Board resolution will have a positive impact on ICANN and especially
the ALAC and At-Large community as it reinforces ICANN's and the ALAC and
At-Large community’s commitment to maintaining and improving its
accountability, transparency and organizational effectiveness throughout
the implementation process.



Due to the number of recommendations that need to be implemented, the Board
supports the approach by priorities as laid out in the Implementation Plan
(Exhibit A). This will allow the community time to refine details as the
implementation process proceeds– especially during Priority 2 and 3
activities set out in that Implementation Plan.



Some recommendations – especially those foreseen to be implemented under
Priority 2 and 3 activities – may benefit from additional details regarding
their exact implementation. Due to the difficulty to predict these issues
months in advance, the Board supports the idea that the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group provides updates bi-annually to the OEC. It is
during these updates that the ALAC can provide greater implementation
details with regard to those recommendations that are going to be scheduled
for the forthcoming six-month period following the respective OEC update.
At that time, the ALAC would be in a better position to flag any
significant variations from the original implementation plan and timing.
The At-Large Review Implementation Plan sets out the prioritization,
expected resource allocation in terms of staff time, web and wiki
resources, expected budgetary implications such as additional staff
resources, and the steps to implementation.



While the majority of implementation activities will use existing At-Large
resources, any additional fiscal implications are noted below. The ALAC
will utilize the normal annual budgetary comment process to request the
required resources. If such resources are not provided, the likely result
would be a significant slow down in the speed of the Review Implementation.



Why is the Board addressing the issue?

This resolution moves the second review of the At-Large community into the
implementation phase. Following the assessment of the Implementation Plan
and the feedback from the Board’s Organizational Effectiveness Committee,
the Board is now in a position to consider the Plan and instruct the ALAC
to continue the implementation process as set out in the Plan. This step is
an important part of the Organizational Review process of checks and
balances, to ensure that the spirit of Board-approved recommendations will
be addressed through the implementation plans, while being mindful of
budgetary and timing constraints.



What is the proposal being considered?

The proposal the Board is considering is the Organizational Effectiveness
Committee’s recommendation of the adoption of the At-Large Review
Implementation Plan, drafted and adopted by the At-Large Review
Implementation Working Group, endorsed by the ALAC.



Which stakeholders or others were consulted?

Immediately after the Board passed the Resolution on the At-Large Review,
the leadership of the At-Large Review Working Group provided updates on the
Review and next steps on each of the five RALO monthly teleconferences. The
creation of the At-Large Review Implementation Working Group involved
careful consideration of members to ensure geographical balance and
diversity within each RALO, including among the 232 At-Large Structures and
over 100 individual members.



During the development of the At-Large Review Implementation Plan, the
At-Large Review Implementation WG members updated the ALAC as well as each
RALO on a regular basis with the progress that was being made. There were
also several discussions on the At-Large Review Implementation during
ICANN63 face-to-face sessions. At each step, feedback was discussed by the
At-Large Review Implementation WG and incorporated into the final Plan.



What concerns, or issues were raised by the community?

During the development of the At-Large Review Implementation Plan, the
At-Large community raised the concern over whether the third At-Large
Summit (ATLAS III) would take place as tentatively scheduled during ICANN66
in Montreal in October 2019 and identified as a Priority 1 activity and
requiring budgetary consideration in advance of the broader organizational
budget cycle. In September 2018 the Board confirmed that the ICANN
organization still had authority to proceed with the planning and
contracting.



What significant materials did the Board review?

The Board reviewed the At-Large Review Implementation Plan as adopted by
the At-Large Review Implementation Working Group and endorsed by the ALAC.



Are there fiscal impacts or ramifications on ICANN, the Community, and/or
the Public (strategic plan, operating plan, or budget)?

The work to improve the effectiveness of the At-Large organization – by
implementing the issues resulting from the Review and the At-Large Review
Implementation Overview Proposal, may require additional financial
resources that are subject to ICANN’s normal budgetary processes. This
resolution does not authorize any specific funding for those implementation
efforts. The Board understands that some of the Priority 1 work, such as
skills development and communication efforts, will require FY20 Additional
Budget Requests. The Board also understands that the ongoing and Priority 2
activities are estimated to require the addition of one Full Time Employee
equivalent, and there are other anticipated resource needs for items such
as communications and data collection.



Are there any security, stability or resiliency issues relating to the DNS?

This action is not expected to have a direct impact on the security,
stability or resiliency of the DNS. Still, once the improvements are
implemented, future activities of the ALAC and At-Large community,
including advice or inputs into the policy development processes, will
become more transparent and accountable, which in turn might indirectly
contribute to the security, stability or resiliency of the DNS.



Is public comment required prior to Board action?

The Draft Report of the independent examiner was posted for public comment.
There is no public comment required prior to this Board action. The voice
of the ALAC has been reflected throughout the review process – via the
At-Large Review Working Party that produced the ALAC Implementation
Overview Proposal; the At-Large Review Implementation Working Group that
developed the implementation plan; and the ALAC that endorsed the
implementation plan.



How is this action within ICANN's mission and what is the public interest
served in this action?

Given that At-Large represents the best interests of individual Internet
end users within ICANN’s multistakeholder governance approach, the approval
of the At-Large Review Implementation Plan, which will lead to a
strengthened At-Large community, will have a direct positive impact to
ICANN’s mission in its bottom-up policy development process. The public
interest is also served through this action which furthers the continued
development and support of a diverse and informed multistakeholder
community.
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