RSSAC Charter
ICANN Bylaws Article 12.2
(c) Root Server System Advisory Committee
- The role of the Root Server System Advisory Committee ("Root Server System Advisory Committee" or "RSSAC") is to advise the ICANN community and Board on matters relating to the operation, administration, security, and integrity of the Internet's Root Server System. It shall have the following responsibilities:
- Communicate on matters relating to the operation of the Root Servers and their multiple instances with the Internet technical community and the ICANN community. The RSSAC shall gather and articulate requirements to offer to those engaged in technical revision of the protocols and best common practices related to the operation of DNS servers.
- Communicate on matters relating to the administration of the Root Zone with those who have direct responsibility for that administration. These matters include the processes and procedures for the production of the Root Zone File.
- Engage in ongoing threat assessment and risk analysis of the Root Server System and recommend any necessary audit activity to assess the current status of root servers and the root zone.
- Respond to requests for information or opinions from the Board.
- Report periodically to the Board on its activities.
- Make policy recommendations to the ICANN community and Board.
- The RSSAC shall be led by a chair. The RSSAC chair and members shall be appointed by the Board.
- RSSAC membership appointment shall be for a three-year term, commencing on 1 January and ending the second year thereafter on 31 December. Members may be re-appointed, and there are no limits to the number of terms the members may serve. The RSSAC chair shall provide recommendations to the Board regarding appointments to the RSSAC. If the Board declines to appoint a person nominated by the RSSAC, then it will provide the rationale for its decision. The RSSAC chair shall stagger appointment recommendations so that approximately one-third (1/3) of the membership of the RSSAC is considered for appointment or re-appointment each year. The Board shall also have the power to remove RSSAC appointees as recommended by or in consultation with the RSSAC.
- The RSSAC shall recommend the appointment of the chair to the Board following a nomination process that it devises and documents.
- The RSSAC shall annually appoint a Liaison to the Board according to Section 7.9(a)(ii).