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.

Geographic Regions Review – Draft Final Report

Comment Period Important Information Links
Open Date: 30 September 2011
Close Date: 19 December 2011 Public Comment Announcement To Submit Your Comments (Forum Closed)
Time (UTC): 23:59 View Comments Submitted Report of Public Comments
Originating Organization: Community-Wide Geographic Regions Review Working Group
Purpose:

For the past two years a community-wide working group chartered by the ICANN Board has been working to (1) confirm the history, underlying principles and goals of the current geographic regions framework, (2) analyze how those goals and principles have been applied by the Board, Staff and community and (3) consulted with the community on how those principles and goals can be best maintained in the future.

This Draft Final Report reflects the penultimate step of that research and consultation effort.  The draft document outlines specific recommendations from the Working Group to the ICANN Board regarding how the present Geographic Regions Framework can be modified to ensure that the organizational principles of geographic and cultural diversity are honored and maintained. Those recommendations are based on thorough research, extensive community consultation and reflect the points of view of a wide range of the ICANN community.

Mindful of the potential implications even small changes to the framework could have on the wider community, the WG decided to make this draft document available to the community for review and comment before the WG formally publishes its Final Report.  The WG will closely review all submitted comments to determine if further modifications to the draft document are necessary.

Current Status: The Working Group has reached a consensus on its recommendations, but given the extensive consultative nature of this effort and mindful of the potential implications even small changes to the framework could have on the wider community, the WG decided to make this draft document available to the community for review and comment before the WG formally publishes its Final Report.
Next Steps: The Working Group will closely review all comments submitted in this proceeding and will determine whether to modify the recommendations in the Final Report. The Working expects to formally publish its Final Report early next year. At that time the various ICANN Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees will be asked to formally comment on the recommendations in the Final Report.
Staff Contact: Robert Hoggarth Email: robert.hoggarth@icann.org