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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi All,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I have reservations about this. While a narrowly tailored amendment to the Bylaws would have resulted in a carve out of the Accountability Mechanisms related solely to the grant program which would not be easily replicated for other programs
and issues, instructing Staff to do this <b><u>in a contract</u></b> sets a very worrying precedent and opens the door for other future instances where Staff could be instructed to use contracts and/or the renewals of contracts to carve out the accountability
mechanisms, making them a de facto nullity and undoing the work of the Accountability CCWG.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I think the Council should ask the Board to hold on this and engage in a community dialogue prior to taking further action. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paul<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Thu, Jul 20, 2023 at 6:24 AM Wendy Profit <<a href="mailto:wendy.profit@icann.org" target="_blank">wendy.profit@icann.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif">Sending on behalf of ICANN Board Chair, Tripti Sinha…</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Dear Former CCWG-AP Members, (in bcc)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">In follow up to the update email from Xavier Calvez, I am writing to you as Chair of the ICANN Board to update you on the Board’s discussions at its workshop during ICANN77. During
this workshop, the ICANN Board discussed with ICANN org how to best implement Recommendation #7 of the Final Report.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">As a reminder, part of Recommendation #7 stated that ICANN’s existing accountability mechanisms – the Independent Review Process (IRP) or the Reconsideration Process – could not
be used to challenge decisions made by the Independent Applications Assessment Panel on individual applications within the Grant Program. To allow this would add unnecessary complexity to the program. Additionally, the total available funding for the program
could also be depleted by the cost of such challenges. The CCWG-AP (and the Board as well, as indicated in our June 2022 action on the CCWG-AP’s Final Report) assumed that the best way to restrict the use of ICANN’s accountability mechanisms in this way would
be to amend the ICANN Bylaws to create a “carve-out.” This would therefore require a Fundamental Bylaws Amendment.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">After exploring this issue more in-depth, I am happy to share with you that the Board and ICANN org identified a path that both upholds the CCWG-AP’s recommendation that individual
application decisions should not be challenged through ICANN’s accountability mechanisms, while also keeping ICANN’s accountability mechanisms unchanged within the Bylaws. The Board is planning to take action on this later this month; however, I wanted to
provide you with a preview. The Board will direct ICANN org to use the contractual terms and conditions required to apply for the Grant Program to obtain applicant agreement that they cannot use ICANN’s accountability mechanisms to challenge any individual
decision taken on their application within the ICANN Grant Program. This remains in line with the CCWG-AP’s recommendation regarding the accountability mechanisms as well as the intention to lower complexity and protect the total amount of proceeds available
for applicants. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">When the CCWG-AP made Recommendation #7, it also provided guidance that providing limited opportunity for review of decisions within the Grant Program might also introduce complexity,
and encouraged ICANN to not make such opportunities available. However, when considering the inability for applicants to use ICANN’s accountability mechanisms for individual decisions, the ICANN Board will also ask ICANN org to explore whether there are appropriate
interim opportunities within the evaluation process for applicants to ask for a limited procedural review. The Board hopes this will enhance ICANN’s accountability to applicants, while following best practices within grant making programs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">We are happy to have identified a path forward that preserves the CCWG-AP’s recommendation and enhances accountability to applicants and the wider Internet community. The Bylaws
are important to us, and we are confident that we can keep up ICANN’s accountability, as set up, while at the same time limiting the ability to challenge for individual selection decisions.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">The Board is following ICANN org’s implementation closely and looks forward to seeing this program launch next year. Thank you again for your time and efforts that went into envisioning
this exciting program. The establishment of the ICANN Grant Program is a testament to your commitment to the work of the CCWG-AP and is an excellent representation of the multistakeholder model in action.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Tripti Sinha<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Chair, ICANN Board of Directors<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica Neue",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FFEB9C"><span style="color:black">This email originated from outside the firm. Please use caution.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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