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.

Application for New GNSO Constituency Candidacy-"Public Internet Access/Cybercafe Ecosystem"

Comment/Reply Periods (*) Important Information Links
Comment Open: 10 October 2012
Comment Close: 17 November 2012
Close Time (UTC): 23:59 UTC Public Comment Announcement
Reply Open: 18 November 2012 To Submit Your Comments (Forum Closed)
Reply Close: 17 December 2012 View Comments Submitted
Close Time (UTC): 23:59 UTC Report of Public Comments
Brief Overview
Originating Organization: ICANN
Categories/Tags:
  • Participation
  • Reviews/Improvements
Purpose (Brief): ICANN has received its first application under the New GNSO Constituency Recognition Process adopted by the ICANN Board in June 2011. The purpose of this forum is to notify the ICANN community and solicit feedback on the Application for Candidacy (AFC) submitted by the Cyber Café Association of India (CCAOI), to form a new GNSO Constituency called the "Public Internet Access/Cybercafé Ecosystem (PIA/CC)". The application package submitted by CCAOI requests that the new Constituency be approved for recognition within the GNSO's Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG). Community input will help inform deliberations by the NCSG as it evaluates the application.
Current Status: This Public Comment period is part of Step 1-Application Phase of the "Process for Recognition of New GNSO Constituencies" which is accessible at: http://gnso.icann.org/en/about/form-new-constituency.htm. The Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG), as the requested home for the proposed new Constituency, has been notified of the application and advised as to its responsibilities and associated timeframes.
Next Steps: Within 10 days of the conclusion of the Public Comment/Reply periods (18 December 2012), ICANN Staff will publish a Report of the community's feedback concerning this application. According to the process requirements, the NCSG has 90 days from date of application receipt to formulate an "Accept" or "Reject" decision as to whether the proposed Constituency should proceed to Step 2-Candidate Phase. The NCSG's decision, together with supporting rationale, will be forwarded to the ICANN Board for its review and action. For additional details concerning the steps, roles/responsibilities, applicable criteria, actions, and timetables associated with this process, please see the actual procedures. A flowchart of the process is also available (and can be separately downloaded) at http://gnso.icann.org/en/about/form-new-constituency.htm.
Staff Contact: Robert Hoggarth Email: policy-staff@icann.org
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose
In accordance with the requirements of the "Process for Recognition of New GNSO Constituencies, the Cyber Cafe Association of India (CCAOI) has formally requested that a prospective new GNSO Constituency to be called "Public Internet Access/Cybercafé Ecosystem (PIA/CC)" be approved as a member of the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG). CCAOI completed and submitted an Application for Candidacy (AFC) form as well as cover letter (see Section III for document links). That application package was then supplemented at CCAOI's request with some follow-up email correspondence to ICANN Staff. The ICANN community is invited to comment on all aspects of this application.
Section II: Background

On 24 June 2011, the ICANN Board approved a "Process for Recognition of New GNSO Constituencies." The process was designed to accomplish four goals:

  1. Optimize the considerable time and effort required to form, organize, and propose a new GNSO Constituency by prescribing a streamlined sequence of steps and associated evaluation criteria that are objective, fair, and transparent - with ample opportunity for community input;
  2. Delegate more authority to each GNSO Stakeholder Group in evaluating new Constituency proposals while maintaining the Board's oversight role;
  3. Manage the entire process to a flexible, but specific and limited timeframe; and
  4. Provide a partial set of criteria for use during the periodic review of the GNSO.

The approved process contains two distinct steps or phases: Applicant and Candidate. A petitioner initiates the process by completing an Application for Candidacy (AFC) form. Staff then opens a Public Comment period and forwards the application to the GNSO Stakeholder Group in which the applicant requests placement. The SG has 90 days to review the application and formulate an "Accept" or "Reject" decision, with supporting rationale, which is then subject to Board ratification. Following successful completion of the Applicant Phase, a limited six-month Candidate Phase follows during which a provisional Constituency, acting in an observer status, is expected to demonstrate having achieved certain participation and membership recruiting standards as well as producing a charter document. At the end of the second phase, the SG, with Board concurrence, decides whether the candidate will be approved as a Recognized Constituency. The entire procedure, the phase criteria, as well as a process flowchart are available for download at: http://gnso.icann.org/en/about/form-new-constituency.htm

Section III: Document and Resource Links
Section IV: Additional Information
Additional review and comment time is being provided to account for the upcoming ICANN Public Meeting in Toronto. The comment period spans 35 days and the reply comment period spans 30 days.

(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.