A vital part of ICANN’s processes is the opportunity for there to be public comment on each substantial piece of work before it is put forward for final approval. This is an archive of one month’s public comment periods, arranged according to the month in which the comment period was closed.
Each box below provides a brief explanation of what the comment period hoped to achieve, as well as: links to relevant reports and/or webpages; a link to the official announcement of the comment period; a link to where all existing comments can be found; and an email link for anyone that wished to send in a comment. A “summary/analysis” objectively reviews the comments.
| Forums Closing This Month | Public Comment | Archived Forums |
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2008 |
Closed Forums
| The Role of Individual Internet Users in the GNSO | |||||
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Explanation: The ICANN Board has asked for additional community input on the appropriate role and representation of individual commercial and non-commercial Internet users in the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO). Faced with a number of different recommendations stemming from various independent reviews and GNSO and user-community group efforts, the Board continues to consider this issue and believes that comments from the community, especially stakeholders in the GNSO, ALAC and At-Large groups, and any relevant applicants for new constituencies, would be particularly helpful. Potential commenters are asked to consider addressing the inclusion of registrants and individual users in the GNSO in a manner that compliments the ALAC and its supporting structures and ensures that registrants’ and individual Internet users’ gTLD interests are effectively represented within the GNSO. A summary document has been prepared by the ICANN Staff to provide background on this issue and to outline a number of potential options being considered by the Board. Deadline and How to Submit Comments The Staff is opening a 30-day public consultation forum, from 28 October 2008 until 28 November 2008, and invites community comments on this topic. Comments on the document are welcome via email at gnso-users@icann.org. This public forum will be open through 28 November 2008. An archive of all comments received will be publicly posted at http://forum.icann.org/lists/gnso-users/. For a copy of the public announcement of this forum please see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-28oct08-en.htm. |
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| Staff member responsible: Robert Hoggarth | |||||
| Add Grace Period (AGP) Limits Policy | |||||
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Explanation: The AGP Limits Policy was adopted by the ICANN Board on 26 June 2008, following completion of a GNSO policy development process on domain tasting. The GNSO conducted their work in response to ICANN community stakeholders’ concerns about domain tasting. The adopted Policy, once implemented, will prohibit registry operators from offering refunds to ICANN-accredited registrars for domain names deleted during the AGP that exceed the thresholds defined by the Policy unless an exemption has been granted by an operator. Public comment is sought on the draft implementation plan of the Policy. Comments may be submitted via email to agp-limits-policy@icann.org and viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/agp-limits-policy/. |
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| Staff member responsible: Craig Schwartz | |||||
| Draft Strategic Plan Priorities | |||||
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Explanation: As part of its annual planning cycle, ICANN is seeking comments on a draft of the priorities for the strategic plan [PDF, 88K]. These priorities will become the framework for the July 2009 June 2012 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan sets out ICANN¹s priorities for the next three years and is the reference point for the preparation of the annual Operating Plan and Budget. All those interested in the in the future activities of ICANN are encouraged to review and comment on this material. Further details can be found at http://www.icann.org/en/planning/ |
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| Staff member responsible: Doug Brent | |||||
Announcement | Comments | Summary/analysis of comments |
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| GNSO Bylaw Revision | |||||
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Explanation: Public comments are invited on a proposed change to the ICANN bylaws that would implement term limits for GNSO Council members. Currently there is no limit to the number of consecutive terms in which a GNSO Council member may serve. In November 2006, the GNSO Council passed a resolution endorsing term limits, wherein a council member could serve no more than two consecutive terms (http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#200611). Moreover, a former council member must remain off the GNSO Council for one full term prior to serving any subsequent term. In light of the pending GNSO review which was underway at the time, the ICANN Board postponed action on term limits. The ICANN Board Governance Committee subsequently included term limits as a recommendation in the GNSO Improvements Report (http://www.icann.org/en/topics/gnso-improvements/gnso-improvements-report-03feb08.pdf, see Sec. 5.1, p. 28) The Report recommends that the preferred limit be two 2-year terms, in order to enhance inclusiveness and enable more people to become involved in Council activities. The GNSO Improvements package was approved by the Board on 26 June 2008 http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-26jun08.htm#_Toc76113182. The draft bylaws change also creates an exception, as recommended by the GNSO Council and the Board Governance Committee, in a “special circumstance,” such as geographic diversity requirements, where no alternative representative is available to serve. Currently, the GNSO Council, constituencies and ICANN staff are working to implement a new structure for constituency representation and voting for the GNSO Council. In considering the imposition of term limits for GNSO Council members, comments are particularly invited on whether the pending reorganization presents issues for the implementation of term limits that should be considered before term limits are adopted, including any other aspects of the new structure, such as the creation of stakeholder groups or the formation of new constituencies. ICANN also invites comments on when term limits should go into effect. The proposed revised bylaws text can be found at: |
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| Staff member responsible: Liz Gasster | |||||