[council] GNSO Review: Updated information (was ICANN Board call)

Wed Feb 22 09:40:39 UTC 2006

Marilyn and Council Colleagues

As the senior staff member responsible for the GNSO Review, I will  
soon be able to provide much more detailed information on the way in  
which the Review will be proceeding now that the appropriate  
formalities from last night's Board meeting are completed.

For the benefit of Council members who have not been involved in the  
establishment of the Review, I've provided some easy to navigate  
background.  I hope this also helps other Council members with their  
preparation for the Review.

1.  The July 2005 Luxembourg Resolution initiated the Review and  
started a process of discussion between the Board, Council, and Staff  
on the establishment of the Terms of Reference. (http://www.icann.org/ 
minutes/resolutions-15jul05.htm#p4)

2.  The December 2005 Vancouver Resolution approved the Terms of  
Reference which had been developed in consultation with individual  
members of the Board, Council and Staff (http://www.icann.org/minutes/ 
resolutions-04dec05.htm.)   A 21 day public comment period about the  
draft Terms of Reference was conducted between 27 October 2005 and 17  
November 2005.   The archive of comments is at http://forum.icann.org/ 
lists/gnso-review-tor/

3.  The 14 December 2005 ICANN website posting sought requests for  
proposals from independent evaluators (http://www.icann.org/ 
announcements/announcement-14dec05.htm).

4.  The 21 Feb 2006 Board Resolution approved the appointment of an  
independent team of evaluators but is not available online as yet.

5.  Background documents on the GNSO Review can be found at http:// 
www.icann.org/gnso/review-tor-background-04nov05.htm.  These include  
the recommendations from the GNSO Council Review, the relevant ICANN  
By laws and other helpful information.

6.  The Terms of Reference can be found at http://www.icann.org/gnso/ 
review-reference-terms-27oct05.htm.

7.  Article IV Section 4 of ICANN's Bylaws (http://www.icann.org/ 
general/archive-bylaws/bylaws-08apr05.htm#IV) gives guidance about  
the conduct of the review and I've copied it here for easy  
reference.  I have added some emphasis which may provide  
clarification about the process.

1. The Board shall cause a periodic review, if feasible no less  
frequently than every three years, 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. The results of such reviews  
shall be posted on the Website for public review and comment, and  
shall be considered by the Board no later than the second scheduled  
meeting of the Board after such results have been posted for 30 days.  
The consideration by the Board includes the ability to revise the  
structure or operation of the parts of ICANN being reviewed by a two- 
thirds vote of all members of the Board.

Finally, ICANN Bylaws Article X, Section 5 which deals with the  
GNSO's operating procedures.

Of course, any further questions are more than welcome.

Liz
.....................................................

Liz Williams
Senior Policy Counselor
ICANN - Brussels
+32 2 234 7874 tel
+32 2 234 7848 fax
+32 497 07 4243 mob

On 22 Feb 2006, at 01:43, Marilyn Cade wrote:

> The fact that the gNSO review has been finalized, a briefing of the  
> Council on the “proposed approach” is of concern. This was supposed  
> to be a joint effort by the Board and the Council and we are sadly  
> without "visibility" into the process, or the outline, or the  
> proposal. Or the funding amount, which I have asked for twice, on  
> Council calls.
>
>
>
> This is something that I propose that Council bring up with the  
> President/CEO and Senior staff. I had noted it on the Board agenda,  
> but never envisioned that there would be an approval, without  
> discussion with the Council.
>
> No doubt that is planned, but Senior Staff are seeking still to  
> schedule a discussion with Council.
>
>
>
> We can help them by initiating this discussion. Let’s spend five  
> minutes on agenda bashing on our upcoming Council meeting on Friday.
>
>
>
> Marilyn Cade
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-council at gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner- 
> council at gnso.icann.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Palage
> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 6:57 PM
> To: council at gnso.icann.org
> Subject: [council] ICANN Board Call
>
>
>
> Dear Council Members:
>
>
>
> The ICANN Board just concluded its teleconference today and took the
>
> following actions.
>
>
>
> (1) Approval of São Paulo, Brazil as the venue for the 2006 ICANN  
> annual
>
> meeting the first week in December; and
>
>
>
> (2) Approved funds to pay the evaluators for their work in connection
>
> with the review of the GNSO;
>
>
>
> Although there was a discussion regarding the VeriSign settlement
>
> negotiation, there was no action taking. There is a scheduled call for
>
> next week 28-Feb-2006. Although the Chair and secretariat have not yet
>
> finalized the agenda for that call it is most likely to involve  
> further
>
> VeriSign discussions as well as those items which have not yet been
>
> completed from today's call. As always, I will try to keep the council
>
> informed of any developments.
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> Michael D. Palage
>
>
>
>
>
>

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