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Reviews are important accountability mechanisms that are required by ICANN Bylaws and critical to maintaining a healthy multistakeholder model. There are two categories of reviews: Specific Reviews address a range of specific topics such as Accountability and Transparency (ATRT), Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice (CCT), Security and Stability (SSR) and Registration Directory Services (RDS); Organizational Reviews assess ICANN’s Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs), to determine how effectively they operate, how well they achieve their purpose and how accountable they are to the multistakeholder community. Reviews deliver findings and recommendations to help improve ICANN, its SOs and ACs.
Tools and Resources Available to You
The Specific Reviews Page and Organizational Reviews Page each provide an introduction to Specific and Organizational Reviews and the process that each follows. From these pages, you can also find links to detailed information on the individual reviews that make up each category. Information is broken into:
Review Home Pages that provide permanent files of essential milestones, outputs, and final deliverables for each review.
Review Wiki Workspaces that provide the latest information of the work of reviews teams including opportunities to participate.
If you are new to ICANN Reviews, we recommend visiting "Getting Started with Reviews" for a step-by-step guide to learn about reviews and the best practices for getting involved.
Below, please find a status update for all active Specific and Organizational Reviews that are in the planning, execution, or implementation phase.
What is the Status of Currently Active Specific Reviews?
| Specific Reviews Currently Active | Status | Additional Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Accountability and Transparency (ATRT3) |
Five of seven Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) completed their nominations. Next, the SO/AC chairs will assemble a review team based on the nominations received. The launch of ATRT3 to be discussed pending close of public comment on short-term options. |
|
| Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice (CCT) |
Review team is refining its final report and recommendations. |
|
| Registration Directory Service Review formerly "WHOIS" (RDS-WHOIS2) |
The review team updated the community at ICANN62 on its progress, sought input on its findings and recommendations, and addressed questions pertaining to its scope and work plan. Archives available here. The review team plans to meet in Brussels on 26-27 July to agree on its draft recommendations and finalize its draft report. |
|
| Security, Stability, and Resiliency of the Domain Name System (SSR2) |
ICANN announced the formal restart of the SSR2 review in June 2018. Plans are underway for a face-to-face meeting where a facilitator will assist the review team to select their leadership, agree on means of working together productively to reach consensus, and agree on a scope of work for the review. |
|
What is the Status of Currently Active Organizational Reviews?
| Organizational Reviews currently active | Status | Additional Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Address Supporting Organization (ASO2) | The NRO is currently assessing the Final Report of the independent examiner. | Find essential milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the ASO Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
| At-Large (At-Large2) |
The Board accepted the At-Large Review Recommendations Feasibility Assessment & Implementation Plan in June 2018. The ALAC will now convene a working group to develop a detailed implementation plan and oversee the implementation process. |
Find latest news and progress updates on the At-Large/ALAC Review Wiki Workspace and historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the At-Large Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
| Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO2) |
The request for proposals is now closed. The review is expected to begin in August 2018. |
Find historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the ccNSO Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
| Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO2) | GNSO2 Review recommendations are in the process of implementation. | Find latest news and progress updates on the GNSO Review Wiki Workspace and historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the GNSO Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
| Nominating Committee (NomCom2) |
The independent examiner has published its final report. The Review Working Party will now prepare a feasibility assessment and initial implementation plan based on the final report. |
Find latest news and progress updates on the NomCom Review Wiki Workspace and historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the NomCom Review Home page on ICANN.org. |
| Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC2) |
The independent examiner has published its final report. The Review Work Party will now prepare a feasibility assessment and initial implementation plan based on the final report. |
Find latest news and progress updates on the RSSAC Review Wiki Workspace and historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the RSSAC Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
| Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC2) |
The consultation period on the independent examiner’s assessment report is now closed. The independent examiner will now incorporate feedback into a draft final report, which will contain both the assessment and recommendations for improving the operation of the SSAC. The draft final report is expected to be published for public comment in September 2018. |
Find latest news and progress updates on the SSAC Review Wiki Workspace and historical milestones, outputs, and final deliverables on the SSAC Review Home Page on ICANN.org. |
Timing of Specific Reviews
The Review Timeline provides a snapshot of the active Specific Reviews (in blue) and Organizational Reviews (in orange). The timeline is broken down into planning and execution phases (darker shade), and the implementation phase (lighter shade) for each review. For a more detailed overview of the review phases, visit the Process Flow infographics.
Review Cycle Overview
The Review Cycle Overview provides an expanded timeline to demonstrate the past, current, and future Specific Reviews (in blue) and Organizational Reviews (in orange) over an extended timeline of 22 years.
(1) Board Resolution to defer Specific Reviews: click here.
(2) Public Comment on deferral of country code names supporting organization (ccNSO) Review: click here.
(3) ASO Memorandum of Understanding: click here. Under this agreement between ICANN and the Number Resource Organization (NRO), the NRO shall fulfill the role, responsibilities and functions of the ASO as defined within the ICANN Bylaws. With reference to the provisions of Article IV, Section 4 of the ICANN
Bylaws the NRO shall provide its own review mechanisms.
Review Timing and Triggers
ICANN Bylaws Section 4.6 mandate the triggers that cause Specific Reviews to commence:
(vi) The Accountability and Transparency Review shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years measured from the date the previous Accountability and Transparency Review Team was convened.
(v) The SSR Review shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years, measured from the date the previous SSR Review Team was convened.
(ii) After a New gTLD Round has been in operation for one year, the Board shall cause a competition, consumer trust and consumer choice review as specified in this Section 4.6(d) ("CCT Review").
(v) The Directory Service Review shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years, measured from the date the previous Directory Service Review Team was convened, except that the first Directory Service Review to be conducted after 1 October 2016 shall be deemed to be timely if the applicable Directory Service Review Team is convened on or before 31 October 2016.
ICANN Bylaws Article/Section 4.4 mandate the triggers that cause Specific Reviews to commence:
Organizational Reviews: These periodic reviews shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years, based on feasibility as determined by the Board. Each five-year cycle will be computed from the moment of the reception by the Board of the final report of the relevant review Working Group.
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