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 Not-for-Profit Operational Concerns Constituency Petition and Charter

Open: 1 December 2010
Closed: 23 January 2011 Extended to 30 January 2011

Explanation/Background: The ongoing GNSO Improvements process has created significant community interest in the formation of new GNSO constituencies and several groups have stepped forward to begin the process of forming a new GNSO constituency. The ICANN Board has now received its fifth formal petition - from the prospective Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency (NPOC). The NPOC proponents propose to join the Non Commercial Stakeholders Group of the GNSO.

All members of the ICANN community and the public are now invited to review the petition and charter of the Consumers Constituency and share comments with the Board and community through 30 January 2011.

In June 2008, the Board of Directors endorsed a series of recommendations on how to improve the GNSO's structures and operations. One of the significant drivers of those recommendations was an interest in maximizing participation in the GNSO and its policy development processes. Among the various recommendations endorsed by the Board was that ICANN take steps to clarify and promote the option to self-form new constituencies.

The current ICANN Bylaws provide that any group of individuals or entities may petition the Board for recognition as a new or separate constituency, in accordance with Section 5(4) of Article X. Such a petition must explain (1) why "the addition of such a Constituency will improve the ability of the GNSO to carry out its policy-development responsibilities" and (2) why "the proposed new Constituency would adequately represent, on a global basis, the stakeholders it seeks to represent."

At the direction of the Board, the ICANN Staff developed a two-step process for potential new constituencies to follow. The proponents of the NPOC completed the first step of the process on 15 June 2010 by filing a Notice of Intent to Form a New Constituency – See the NPOC NOIF [PDF, 257 KB]. The proponents of the NPOC completed the second step of the process- submission of a New Constituency Petition and Charter on 2 November 2010.

Copies of the Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency Petition Documents can be found at these links:

The NPOC Charter Cover Letter [PDF, 41 KB];
The NPOC Petition (redacted) and Charter [PDF, 164 KB]

On 7 December 2010, the NPOC proponents modified their proposal to reflect a new name for their proposed constituency - the Not-for-Profit Operational Concerns Constituency. They also made modifications to the mission statement of the proposed organization. Documents explaining those revisions can be found at http://gnso.icann.org/en/improvements/newco-process-en.htm at both these links:

http://gnso.icann.org/improvements/npoc-charter-cover-letter-07dec10-en.pdf [PDF, 56 KB]; and
http://gnso.icann.org/improvements/npoc-charter-redacted-07dec10-en.pdf [PDF, 187 KB]

As a result of the timing of these modifications, the Staff has extended the close of this public comment period to 30 January 2011.

Staff Responsible: Robert Hoggarth

Deadline and How to Submit Comments:

The Staff is opening a public consultation forum, from 1 December 2010 through 30 January 2011.

To submit comments: Comments on the document are welcome via email at npoc-petition-charter@icann.org. This public forum will be open through 30 January 2011.

To view comments: An archive of all comments received will be publicly posted at http://forum.icann.org/lists/npoc-petition-charter/.

For a copy of the public announcement of this forum please see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec10-en.htm.

Staff member responsible: Robert Hoggarth

Announcement | Comments | Summary/analysis of comments