<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1170" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello
all,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>As you know, the
ICANN Budget committee received it's first draft copy of the budget on
Monday night. This was my first chance to see the budget ICANN was
proposing. There was also conference call to discuss the draft with ICANN
staff and the other members of the committee yesterday (Tuesday).
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>The budget was
created by ICANN staff before Rome, and has been in the hands of the ICANN
Board's Finance Committee until this point. I am told it has
undergone several revisions and cuttings by the ICANN staff and the Board
Finance Committee. I believe Mike Palage is a participant on the Board
Finance Committee, and from his comments in Rome, I understand he has been
working closely with staff to review and refine the budget prior to it's
release.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>I know many of you
are anxious to see the budget details. Some of you may have already seen it as I
know ICANN has had discussions with some Registrars directly to gain their input
on the new model. While I know the delay for those of you who have not yet
seen the budget may be frustrating,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2> I am pleased to report that
ICANN should be posting it publicly on their website within the next few days
(probably by Monday at the latest).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>We will be
scheduling a conference call for the constituency shortly after it is posted, so
we can answer any of your questions concerning the budget. You should plan
to go through the document thoroughly as soon as it is posted, as there are
significant changes to the budget, and the way Registrar payments are calculated
and collected.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Please also be aware
that until the budget is posted publicly, the budget committee can not discuss
the draft. I would ask that you refrain from posting/asking your
questions/speculations until you have had a chance to read the document when it
becomes available.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rest assured, we
will make every effort to answer your questions and address all of your
concerns as soon as the budget is public.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank
you.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Rob
Hall</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial size=2>Registrar Rep to the
ICANN Budget Committee.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=769255716-12052004><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV></BODY></HTML>