Public Comment

Public Comment is a vital part of our multistakeholder model. It provides a mechanism for stakeholders to have their opinions and recommendations formally and publicly documented. It is an opportunity for the ICANN community to effect change and improve policies and operations.

New Organisational Frameworks and Principles

Open: 17 October 07
Closed: 12 November 07

Explanation:Over the past year, ICANN has been drafting a set of frameworks and principles that outline, define and expand upon the organisation’s accountability and transparency.

The first step was an “issues paper” built from community suggestions and feedback. This was put out for public comment, and from that, plus the recommendations made by an independent review of ICANN by the One World Trust, a draft set of frameworks and principles was drawn up.

These were then put out for public comment and were also discussed at a special meeting [transcript] in San Juan in June. The feedback from that meeting and the comment forum was summarised and posted. And that feedback has been used to make some changes to the frameworks and principles. It is the resulting document [pdf] from this process that is now being putting out for a final comment period. For a quick overview of the changes made, see the official announcement of this comment period.

The frameworks and principles are very important. They outline how ICANN is going to approach various vital parts of its work, including releasing information; seeking consultation; dealing with disputes; ICANN’s finances; translation of material into other languages; and how staff are expected to behave.

The feedback from this comment period, and from a special meeting to be held at the Los Angeles meeting on Wednesday 30 October between 1530 and 1700 hours, will be the last opportunity the community has to make changes. Comments will be pulled in a final document and the intent is to provide it to the Board at their December meeting to vote on. You can read the Accountability and Transparency Frameworks and Principles for Consultation here [pdf].

Announcement | Comments | Summary/analysis of comments