[council] ICANN Board meeting agenda - 9 Dec 2009 - Item on Constituencies

[Rosemary Sinclair]

Bruce

Many thanks for these insights into the process

Re:

"...there is support for some form of Consumers Constituency to increase
participation by individual users of domain names in the policy
development process - but this needs to be taken in the context of the
new structure of the Non-commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG).    The
overall aim of any structural improvement is to increase user
participation and the effectiveness of that participation in the GNSO.

Any feedback you can provide from the perspective of the GNSO would be
useful."

I'm sure Chuck Gomes (Chair GNSO Council) and Avri Doria (immediate past
Chair GNSO and now Chair NCSG EC) will provide input to the Board.

But for me personally, increasing consumer awareness of and
participation in ICANN policy processes is the key reason for my
interest in ICANN and I am pleased to learn of the development of a
Consumer Constituency to provide a "landing spot" for consumer groups
interested in learning more about ICANN and influencing decisions to
ensure they reflect consumer needs

As I see it we have a clear direction, in the Affirmation of Commitments
and the developing ICANN Strategy Plan, of outreach to other voices and
I an keen to be part of this effort - hence the meeting in Brussels with
BEUC and plans in hand to assist in connecting with other consumer
groups around Asia Pacific...I am going to suggest ICANN make a
presentation on this at the next APECTEL meeting and seek the support of
all economies 

My focus as part of the NCSG Exec Committee at the moment is on working
to establish the NCSG as a fully effective part of the GNSO, making the
structural links between NCSG and GNSO processes work smoothly and
settling admin planks like Membership Criteria, Policy Position
Development, Interest Groups and Constituency Development

The next stage will be encouraging others into NCSG - whether as
Members, Interest Groups or Constituencies

Cheers

Rosemary



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-council at gnso.icann.org [mailto:owner-council at gnso.icann.org]
On Behalf Of Bruce Tonkin
Sent: Wednesday, 9 December 2009 10:46 AM
To: council at gnso.icann.org
Subject: RE: [council] ICANN Board meeting agenda - 9 Dec 2009 - Item on
Constituencies


Hello Rosemary,

> 
> Is there anything of significance in item 6 - there is some 
> thought that
> this might relate to a Consumer Constituency - something we 
> are working
> on but are not ready for just yet.....

The agenda item relates to the four formal petitions received by ICANN
to form new constituencies.

These are:

- Consumers Constituency

- CyberSafety Constituency

- City TLD Constituency

- IDNgTLD Constituency

The staff have provided recommendations with respect to whether to
approve these proposals or not.

The Board has the option to follow staff advice or decide to postpone
any decision.

I also expect that the Board's Structural Improvements Committee (SIC)
(http://www.icann.org/en/committees/improvements/) will also advise the
Board on this matter.


Speaking personally - my understanding of feedback provided by the ICANN
community - is that of the four above - there is support for some form
of Consumers Constituency to increase participation by individual users
of domain names in the policy development process - but this needs to be
taken in the context of the new structure of the Non-commercial
Stakeholder Group (NCSG).    The overall aim of any structural
improvement is to increase user participation and the effectiveness of
that participation in the GNSO.

Any feedback you can provide from the perspective of the GNSO would be
useful.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin