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.

closed ICANN Bylaws Amendments: ccNSO-Proposed Changes to Article 10 and Annex B

CategoryGovernance
RequestersICANN Board

Outcome

All submissions were supportive and did not raise any concern of the proposed amendment of the Article 10 and Annex B of the ICANN Bylaws. Taking into account the extensive consultations the ccNSO has undertaken and the supportive submissions, no additional refinements of the proposed changes are recommended.

What We Received Input On

The purpose of this Public Comment proceeding is to obtain community input on proposed changes to ICANN Bylaws Article 10 and Annex B requested by the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) prior to further consideration by the ICANN Board. The proposed changes support the improvements arising out of the second Organizational Review of the ccNSO (ccNSO2 Review), specifically the need to allow Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) country code top-level domain (ccTLD) managers to become members of the ccNSO if they choose to do so.

The proposed changes are the result of extensive consultations with the members of the ccNSO. The proposed changes address issues of definition of membership and voting rights when there are multiple ccTLD manages from the same country or territory and are important to the continued effectiveness of ccNSO processes.

The ICANN Board, taking on the ccNSO request, agreed to initiate the Standard Bylaws Amendment Process established in Article 25, Section 25.1 of the ICANN Bylaws. As required by Section 25.1, prior to approval of a Standard Bylaw Amendment by the ICANN Board, a draft of the Standard Bylaw Amendment is required to be published for Public Comment.

Proposals For Your Input
Proposed ICANN Bylaws Amendments Article 10 and Annex B (pdf, 130.17 KB)

Background

Since the launch of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process in 2009, some countries and territories may have multiple ccTLDs, which can each be operated through different ccTLD managers. To date, however, the ICANN Bylaws defining membership in the ccNSO did not clearly identify a membership and voting structure when there are multiple ccTLD managers within the same country or territory. To support the inclusion of ccTLD managers for IDN ccTLDs, as well as improvements arising from the ccNSO2 Review. The ccNSO Council has proposed changes to Article 10 and Annex B of the ICANN Bylaws. The ccNSO Council initially requested ICANN Bylaws amendments on 7 February 2020. The ccNSO leadership then coordinated with the ICANN Legal department on the substance of the amendments. After further consultation with the ccNSO membership, on 9 September 2021 the ccNSO Council chair renewed the request to the ICANN Board for initiation of the Standard Bylaws Amendment Process with refined language.

As clarity in membership and voting structure is key for continued healthy operations of the ccNSO as anticipated through the Organizational Review process, the ICANN Board Organizational Effectiveness Committee (OEC) considered and recommended to the ICANN Board that the Standard Bylaws Amendment Process be initiated with the posting of the proposed changes for Public Comment. The ICANN Board, following the OEC recommendation, approved the initiation of the Standard Bylaws Amendment Process. The ICANN Board has not evaluated the substance of the proposed ICANN Bylaws amendments, as that will be reserved until the ICANN Board can consider the Public Comment submissions.