[council] Request for Comments — ICANN Board Review Draft Terms of Reference

[GNSO.SECRETARIAT@GNSO.ICANN.ORG]

[To: council[at]gnso.icann.org; liaison6c[at]gnso.icann.org]
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[To: regional-liaisons[at]icann.org]


Please note that the request for Comments on ICANN Board Review Draft 
Terms of Reference is open until October 11, 2007
http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-20sep07.htm

20 September 2007

As part of the 2002-03 Evolution and Reform process, the ICANN community 
and Board established a principle of ongoing review of ICANN's 
structures to ensure their continuing relevance and effectiveness.

This principle was embedded in the ICANN bylaws — making it a rare 
example in an international entity of constitutionally-required ongoing 
reform. In accordance with this requirement, and as part of ICANNs 
ongoing commitment to evolution and improvement, the Board approved at 
ICANN's December 2006 meeting in Sao Paulo a comprehensive schedule for 
independent review of ICANNs structures. The Board, on the 
recommendation of the Board Governance Committee, subsequently expanded 
this list to include the Board itself. The schedule is as follows:

     * Nominating Committee estimated launch — December 2006
     * At-Large Advisory Committee estimated launch — February 2007
     * DNS Root Server System Advisory Committee estimated launch — July 
2007
     * Board estimated launch — October 2007
     * Security and Stability Advisory Committee estimated launch — 
January 2008
     * ccNSO Supporting Organisation estimated launch — July 2008
     * Address Supporting Organisation (ASO) estimated launch — December 
2008

The reviews are intended to ensure an independent examination of the 
role and operation of key elements of ICANN. As with the first two 
independent reviews, which were completed for the GNSO Council and the 
GNSO , these reviews will be conducted in an objective manner by 
independent reviewers, under guidance from the Board on each reviews 
terms of reference, and with the opportunity for public comment on the 
results of the reviews.

As specified in Article IV, Section 4 of ICANNs Bylaws, 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 these reviews shall be posted for public 
review and comment, and shall be considered by the Board not later than 
its second scheduled meeting after being posted for 30 days. 
Consideration by the Board includes the ability to revise the structure 
or operation of the Nominating Committee by a two-thirds vote of all 
members.

The Draft Terms of Reference for a review of the Board is to be found at 
http://www.icann.org/reviews/icann-board-review-20sep07.pdf [PDF, 17K].

They are open for public comment until October 11, 2007. Public comments 
should be made at board-review-tor at icann.org and can be reviewed at 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/board-review-tor/.

-- 
Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat - ICANN
gnso.secretariat[at]gnso.icann.org
http://gnso.icann.org