Minutes | Regular Meeting of the Board 8 April 2005

A Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on 8 April 2005, and was called to order at 9:10 AM local time. Chairman Vinton G. Cerf presided over the entire meeting. The following other Board Directors participated in all or part of the meeting: Raimundo Beca, Mouhamet Diop, Demi Getschko, Hagen Hultzsch, Joichi Ito, Veni Markovski, Thomas Niles, Michael D. Palage, Alejandro Pisanty, Hualin Qian, Njeri Rionge, Vanda Scartezini, and Peter Dengate Thrush. Paul Twomey was not present for the meeting. The following Board Liaisons participated in all or part of the meeting: Steve Crocker, Security and Stability Advisory Committee Liaison; Roberto Gaetano, At Large Advisory Committee Liaison; John Klensin, IETF Liaison; Richard Thwaites, Technical Liaison Group Liaison; and Suzanne Woolf, Root Server System Advisory Committee Liaison. John Jeffrey, General Counsel and Board Secretary also participated in the meeting.

Real-time captioning of the Board Meeting is available on the ICANN Website at http://www.icann.org/meetings/mardelplata/captioning-BoD-meeting-08apr05.htm

Chairman Vint Cerf made some opening remarks and then the Board engaged in discussion regarding the following items and in some cases adopted resolutions, as set forth below:

Approval of Minutes

Vint Cerf introduced a resolution:

Resolved (05.17), the minutes of the meeting of the Board on 21 March 2005, are hereby approved and adopted by the Board as presented.

The resolution was moved by Vint Cerf, seconded by Alejandro Pisanty, and approved unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

Proposed Change to ICANN Bylaws Regarding New ASO MoU

Raimundo Beca introduced a resolution:

Whereas, on 21 October 2004, ICANN entered a new Address Supporting Organization (ASO) Memorandum of Understanding that replaces the original MOU signed by ICANN and the RIRs in 1999 and amended in 2000.

Whereas, Article VIII of the Bylaws currently states that the ASO will advise the Board with respect to policy issues relating to the assignment of Internet addresses, and includes a reference the 1999 version of the ASO MOU.

Whereas, on 5 December 2004, the Board agreed to consider proposed amendments to the Bylaws that incorporate a reference to (and thus give effect to) the new ASO MOU, and directed the General Counsel to post the proposed amendments for public comments.

Whereas, the posting of the proposed amendments has been duly and timely executed in line with the Board's instructions and no substantive comments have been received during the public comment period.

Resolved (05.18) the Board adopts the proposed amendments to the Bylaws as posted, and instructs the President and General Counsel to take such actions as appropriate to implement the amendments and the new ASO MOU.

The resolution was moved by Raimundo Beca, seconded by Vanda Scartezini, and approved unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

IPv4 Global Allocation Policy

Raimundo Beca introduced a resolution:

Whereas, the ASO Address Council has forwarded a codification of existing global policies for allocation of IPv4 address blocks from IANA to the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs), affirming that the Policy had been approved in accordance with the policy development process adopted and specified by the ASO MOU.

Whereas, on 18 February 2005, ICANN's Board adopted a resolution preliminarily adopting the proposed policy as a valid codification of current procedures, and directed the President to continue to follow the policy in the performance of the IANA function.

Whereas, the proposed IPv4 Global Allocation Policy was posted for public comment on 9 March 2005, with the stated goal of finalizing adoption of the policy barring any substantial objection from the community or constituent bodies, at the ICANN meetings in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in April 2005.

Whereas, the Board has considered the public comments that were submitted to the forum and determined that existing procedures adequately address the issues that were raised, and no objection was raised by the Security and Stability Advisory Committee or other ICANN advisory bodies.

Resolved (05.19), the proposed IPv4 Global Allocation Policy is adopted, and the President is directed to continue to follow the policy in the performance of the IANA function.

Demi Getschko requested statistics on actual IPv4 usage. Ray Plzak of the NRO was in the audience and gave the Board an overview indicating that 40 to 45% of all available IPv4 address space remained available to be issued by IANA to the RIRs. Mr. Plzak stated that a variety of recent studies have estimated that these unallocated addresses should last for 10, 20 or 40 years, based on current usage and conservation policies. Mr. Plzak also noted that Geoff Huston and others had created an animation showing the rate at which IPv4 addresses and AS numbers had been consumed over the past 25 years: "BGP, the movie" (58MB) - <http://www.apnic.net/news/hot-topics/docs/bgp-movie.mpg>.

The resolution was moved by Raimundo Beca, seconded by Mouhamet Diop, and approved (as amended above) unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

Proposed Change to ICANN Bylaws Regarding Number of GNSO Council Representatives

Michael Palage introduced a resolution:

Whereas, one of ICANN's Core Values from Bylaws Article I, Section 2 is "Seeking and supporting broad, informed participation reflecting the functional, geographic, and cultural diversity of the Internet at all levels of policy development and decision-making."

Whereas, the Transition Article (XX) of the Bylaws states that "In the absence of further action on the topic by the New Board, each of the GNSO constituencies shall select two representatives to the GNSO Council"

Whereas the Board resolved in Carthage on 31 October 2003 to change the transition article (Article XX) of the ICANN bylaws to allow each constituency of the GNSO to continue to be represented on the GNSO Council by three representatives per constituency until the end of the ICANN annual meeting in 2004.

Whereas the GNSO Council requested that the Board extend the arrangement of three representatives per constituency until the ICANN meeting in Mar del Plata, Argentina (4 - 8 April 2005) in order for the external review to be completed following a public comment period.

Whereas, the Board initiated a review of the GNSO Council in 2004 pursuant to Bylaws Article IV, section 4, including, among other aspects of the review criteria, an analysis of the efficacy of having three representatives from each constituency on the GNSO Council.

Whereas, the report of the independent consultant that performed the GNSO Council Review recommended that "The Council is working well with three representatives from each constituency. No one who is involved with the Council perceives that having three representatives hinders the workings of the Council."

Whereas the GNSO Council's self-review also supported the continuance of three representatives from each constituency.

Whereas public comments received on the independent review (22 December 2004 - 24 January 2005) and on the proposed Bylaws amendment (18 March 2005 - 8 April 2005) indicated no significant opposition, and considerable support, for the proposal to maintain three representatives per constituency.

Resolved (05.20) the Board adopts the proposed amendments to the Bylaws as posted, and instructs the President and General Counsel to take such actions as appropriate to implement the amendments.

The resolution was moved by Michael Palage, seconded by Alejandro Pisanty, and approved unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

Proposed sTLD Agreement for .JOBS

Hagen Hultzsch introduced a resolution:

Whereas, on 13 December 2004, the board authorized the President and General Counsel to enter into negotiations relating to proposed commercial and technical terms for the .JOBS sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) with the applicant, Employ Media.

Whereas, on 24 March 2004, ICANN announced that negotiations with the applicant for the .JOBS sponsored top-level domain had been successfully completed, and posted the proposed .JOBS sponsored TLD registry agreement on the ICANN website.

Whereas, in response to the Board resolution on 13 December 2004, the applicant has provided satisfactory details as to the broad-based mechanism for policy-making for the sponsored community, and how this sTLD would be differentiated in the name space.

Whereas, the Board has determined that approval of the agreement, and delegation of a .JOBS sponsored top-level domain to Employ Media would be beneficial for ICANN and the Internet community.

Whereas, ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) has concluded that "the issue of geographical and geopolitical names is very complex, and the subject of ongoing international discussion," and the Board has determined that it is appropriate to take temporary steps to prevent the registration of such names in new TLDs in order to allow it and the community the time to consider carefully this issue and determine what if any policy should be adopted with respect to it.

Resolved (05.21), the President and the General Counsel are directed to take appropriate steps to preserve the Board's ability to take action with respect to the registration in this generic top-level domain of names of countries and distinct economies.

Resolved (05.22), and that subject to the amendment of Appendix 6 of the proposed sponsored TLD registry agreement to include the names of countries and distinct economies, the proposed agreement with Employ Media concerning the .JOBS sTLD is approved, and the President is authorized to take such actions as appropriate to implement the agreement.

The resolution was moved by Hagen Hultzsch, seconded by Veni Markovski, and approved (as amended above) unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

Proposed sTLD Agreement for .TRAVEL

Njeri Rionge introduced a resolution:

Whereas, on 18 October 2004, the board authorized the President and General Counsel to enter into negotiations relating to proposed commercial and technical terms for the .TRAVEL sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) with the applicant, Tralliance Corporation.

Whereas, on 24 March 2004, ICANN announced that negotiations with the applicant for the .TRAVEL sponsored top-level domain had been successfully completed, and posted the proposed .TRAVEL sponsored TLD registry agreement on the ICANN website.

Whereas, the Board has determined that approval of the agreement, and delegation of a .TRAVEL sponsored top-level domain to Tralliance would be beneficial for ICANN and the Internet community.

Whereas, ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) has concluded that "the issue of geographical and geopolitical names is very complex, and the subject of ongoing international discussion," and the Board has determined that it is appropriate to take temporary steps to prevent the registration of such names in new TLDs in order to allow it and the community the time to consider carefully this issue and determine what if any policy should be adopted with respect to it.

Resolved (05.23), the President and the General Counsel are directed to take appropriate steps to preserve the Board's ability to take action with respect to the registration in this generic top-level domain of names of countries and distinct economies.

Resolved (05.24), and that subject to the amendment of Appendix 6 of the proposed sponsored TLD registry agreement to include the names of countries and distinct economies, the proposed agreement with Tralliance concerning the .TRAVEL sTLD is approved, and the President is authorized to take such actions as appropriate to implement the agreement.

The resolution was moved by Njeri Rionge, seconded by Hagen Hultzsch, and approved (as amended above) unanimously by the Board, 14-0.

Recognition of AFRINIC as Regional Internet Registry

A motion concerning the recognition of AFRINIC as a Regional Internet Registry was introduced by Mouhamet Diop:

Whereas ICANN has previously adopted a set of procedures and standards for the receipt and evaluation of applications for recognition as an RIR.

Whereas an application for recognition, together with a detailed transition plan - including draft bylaws, policies, funding model, and staff resumes - was submitted to ICANN by the African Internet Numbers Registry (AfriNIC).

Whereas APNIC, ARIN, LACNIC, and the RIPE NCC, through the Numbers Resource Organization (NRO), communicated a joint statement praising the excellent work of the AfriNIC organization, noting the close cooperation between the incumbent RIRs and AfriNIC, and recommending a favorable response to the application by recognizing AfriNIC's accomplishments.

Whereas the Board, on 30 September 2004, gave its provisional recognition to AfriNIC as the Regional Internet Registry for the Africa region, with the expectation that the transition plan would be successfully implemented and the application for recognition would be supplemented and finalized.

Whereas the AfriNIC organization has reached the conclusion of its transition plan, and has submitted an updated application for approval and recognition.

Whereas the Chairman of the NRO has communicated the collective favorable assessment of AfriNIC's application by the RIRs, and recommendation for final approval and recognition of AfriNIC.

Whereas the President has reviewed the AfriNIC application and the IANA report on the application, and determined that it is in full conformance with the criteria set forth in ICP-2, that AfriNIC has completed its transition plan, and has met all of the requirements for final recognition.

Resolved (05.25), the Board proclaims AfriNIC to be a fully approved and recognized Regional Internet Registry, to provide IP address registration and other services for the Africa service region.

Resolved (05.26), the Board congratulates and thanks the NRO, AfriNIC, and its organizers, Board, President, staff, and members, and other supporting organizations and parties for their tireless efforts, dedication to excellence in services at the executive, registration, and technical levels, and commitment to the values of regional representation, global coordination, openness, and bottom-up self-management, in the best traditions of the Internet.

Moved by Mouhamet Diop, seconded jointly by Raimundo Beca and the full Board, and was adopted unanimously by acclamation.

Status of Other TLD Applications

Vint Cerf provided an update for with regard to the other new sTLD applications. He stated that .ASIA, .MAIL, .TEL (x2), and .XXX are still under consideration. He reported that the Board has had fairly extensive discussion about .ASIA and .XXX, and that the others will be attended to as the Board can get to them. He stated the Board will attempt within the next 30 days to come to a conclusion one way or the other about .ASIA and .XXX.

Discussion of Draft Corporate Governance Principles

In response to a request from Vint Cerf, Alejandro Pisanty (Chair of the Board Governance Committee) provided an update on discussions concerning the draft Corporate Governance Principles.

Other Business

Directors also discussed the status of the .NET RFP process, the ICANN Strategic Plan, and Internationalized Domain Names.

Thanks to Scribes, Sponsors, Staff and Translators (in Spanish)

Alejandro Pisanty introduced a resolution:

El Consejo Directivo extiende su agradecimiento a todos los patrocinadores de la reunisn, incluyendo a Afilias, VeriSign, LACNIC, PIR, Comiti Gestor da Internet no Brasil, DENIC, Comsat, Fibertel, Global Crossing, Intermediasp, NeuLevel, Nominalia, NIC Mixico, NIC Chile, y Polo Informatico Ciudad Mar del Plata.

Quisiiramos reconocer el esfuerzo realizado por el personal del Hotel Sheraton Mar del Plata para cumplir con nuestras mzltiples solicitudes.

El Consejo expresa su reconocimiento al personal de ICANN presente en Mar del Plata; a Laura Brewer y a Terri Darrenougue; y al resto del personal de ICANN por sus dedicados esfuerzos para asegurar el buen funcionamiento de la reunisn.

El Consejo quisiera agradecer a Norma Rossi por proveer los servicios de intirpretacisn simultanea.

Thanks to Local Hosts (in Spanish)

Raimundo Beca introduced a resolution:

CONSIDERANDO:

Que ICANN ha concluido exitosamente su reunisn en Mar del Plata, Argentina;

Que la calida hospitalidad, esplindidas instalaciones, fuerte apoyo, e intensa atencisn para satisfacer las necesidades de los participantes han sido verdaderamente magnmficas;

se RESUELVE (05.27) que el Consejo Directivo de ICANN expresa su profundo reconocimiento y agradecimiento, a nombre propio y de todos los participantes, al Comiti Anfitrisn: Patricio Seoane, Presidente; Oscar Messano, Vicepresidente; Ariel Graizer, Secretario; Hernan Seoane, Tesorero; Anthony Harris, Director Ejecutivo; y Silvana Landolfo, Coordinadora Institucional, todos ellos de CABASE. El Consejo Directivo de ICANN expresa tambiin su agradecimiento a Sscar Garcma y su equipo ticnico; Miguel Tetamanti, Ivana Dalessandro y equipo; Santiago Botta y equipo; Sylvia Caesar Rey y equipo; Sonia De Francisco; Gabriel Adonaylo, Fernando Silveira; y el personal de CABASE: Cristian Rinaldi, Prensa; Gabriel Adonaylo; Fernanda Gonzalez Martinenghi, Administracisn y Secretaria, y los miembros de CABASE por su apoyo en hacer de esta reunisn un ixito.

Adjournment

Vint Cerf adjourned the meeting at 11:21 AM local time.