Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

  |  Subscribe: Newsletters & News Alerts  |  ICANN Blog  |  Public Comment

• Home
• About
• News
• Policy
• Current Topics
• Events
• Structure
• Processes
• Resources
• Documents
• Contact    

^ Home

> Current Topics

As part of ICANN’s ongoing commitment to its evolution and improvement, the Board approved a comprehensive schedule for independent review of ICANN’s structures, as well as of the Board.

The following reviews are currently underway:

• Nominating Committee
• At-Large Advisory Committee
• DNS Root Server System Advisory Committee
• Board
• Security and Stability Advisory Committee

Reviews of the following entities will commence shortly:

• Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (ccNSO)
• Address Supporting Organisation

In addition, an independent review of the GNSO was completed in September 2006, and a set of GNSO improvement recommendations was adopted by the Board in June 2008.

For more information about each of the reviews, including updates and next steps, please click on the links above.

The reviews are part of ICANN’s program of continuous improvement and are intended to ensure an independent examination of the role and operation of key elements of ICANN.  They are conducted in an objective manner by independent reviewers, under guidance from the Board on each review’s terms of reference, and with the opportunity for public comment on the results of the reviews and any proposed improvements.

As specified in Article IV, Section 4 of ICANN’s 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. The consideration by the Board includes the ability to revise the structure or operation of the parts of ICANN being reviewed by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Board.

Review processes generally include the following:

• Staff consults with the entity that is the subject of the review, and others as appropriate, and develops draft Terms of Reference (TOR);
• The Board Governance Committee (BGC) constitutes a Working Group of current and former Board members to oversee the review;
• The Working Group considers and recommends the draft TOR for Board action, and the Board considers and directs staff to post draft TOR for public comment;
• The BGC considers final TOR (taking into account public comments), recommends final TOR for Board action, and the Board approves final TOR;
• The BGC considers a process for selecting an independent reviewer (which could include considering and referring for Board action a Request for Proposals, and the Board considering and directing staff to post an RFP);
• The BGC implements the process for selecting the independent reviewer, with appropriate Board coordination and approval;
• The independent reviewer conducts the review;
• The independent reviewer submits the review to the Board and the Board directs the review to be posted for public comment;
• The Board (with BGC and Working Group leadership) considers the review and resulting public comment; and
• The BGC WG considers the need for potential improvements and prepares recommendations for BGC consideration, public comment, and Board approval.

This file last modified 09-Oct-2008

© 2008 Internet Corporation For Assigned Names and Numbers