<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">Dear NCUC members,<div>I am sharing the details I received about the forthcoming session about the new gTLD Program and RDRS Community Feedback sessions planned by the ICANN Board. There is an opportunity to come up with a list of questions in relation to these topics. Read the details below:<br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Vinciane Koenigsfeld</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:vinciane.koenigsfeld@icann.org" target="_blank">vinciane.koenigsfeld@icann.org</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Oct 8, 2024 at 8:15 AM<br>Subject: ICANN81 Stakeholders/Board sessions<br>To: <a href="mailto:julf@julf.com" target="_blank">julf@julf.com</a> <<a href="mailto:julf@julf.com" target="_blank">julf@julf.com</a>>, <a href="mailto:benakin@gmail.com" target="_blank">benakin@gmail.com</a> <<a href="mailto:benakin@gmail.com" target="_blank">benakin@gmail.com</a>>, <a href="mailto:jumaropi@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jumaropi@yahoo.com</a> <<a href="mailto:jumaropi@yahoo.com" target="_blank">jumaropi@yahoo.com</a>>, <a href="mailto:mcknight.glenn@gmail.com" target="_blank">mcknight.glenn@gmail.com</a> <<a href="mailto:mcknight.glenn@gmail.com" target="_blank">mcknight.glenn@gmail.com</a>><br>Cc: Carlos Reyes <<a href="mailto:carlos.reyes@icann.org" target="_blank">carlos.reyes@icann.org</a>>, Michelle Bright <<a href="mailto:michelle.bright@icann.org" target="_blank">michelle.bright@icann.org</a>>, Board Ops Team <<a href="mailto:board-ops-team@icann.org" target="_blank">board-ops-team@icann.org</a>>, Mary Wong <<a href="mailto:mary.wong@icann.org" target="_blank">mary.wong@icann.org</a>><br></div><br><br><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="SR-LATN-RS" style="color:black">Sent on behalf of Tripti Sinha, Chair, ICANN Board of Directors</span></i><i><span lang="SR-LATN-RS"><u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">Dear<span> </span></span><span><span lang="EN-GB">Non</span></span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm;background:white;font-style:normal">c</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#333333;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm;background:white;font-style:normal">ommercial
Stakeholder Group</span></em><span><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color:#333333;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm;background:white"> </span></i></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">Leaders,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Our Annual General Meeting (9-14 November) is approaching quickly, and the Board and I are looking forward to meeting with all of you in Istanbul</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">.</span><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">It will be our final meeting of 2024, a year marked by both challenges and progress. Notably, we celebrated the selection of our new CEO, Kurtis Lindqvist, who will soon officially take on the role.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">As we finalize our new five-year Strategic Plan and continue collaborating on key projects critical to ICANN’s future—including the launch of the Next Round of new gTLDs— we remain committed to strengthening our partnership. In keeping
with our practice before ICANN79, the Board plans to hold an open engagement session during Prep Week of ICANN81, allowing interested community members to engage directly with the Board on specific topics. <b>This session will be held on 28 October at 15:00
UTC.</b><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">The 60-minute session will feature two breakout rooms, each hosted by different Board members and focused on distinct topics. After a brief welcome plenary, participants will be invited to join one of the two breakout rooms for a 45-minute
discussion with the Board hosts. Attendees will have the flexibility to move between the breakout rooms. The session will conclude with a summary from each Board host on the discussions held in their respective breakout rooms.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black"> </span></b><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Topic 1:<span> </span>Future of the new gTLD Program: Applications in rounds or continuously accepting applications (first come, first serve)?</span></b><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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Led by Becky Burr and Alan Barrett<u></u><u></u></li><li style="color:black;margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm">
Format of the engagement: discussion and soliciting input<u></u><u></u></li><li style="color:black;margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm">
Description: To date, the new gTLD Program has operated in rounds, allowing applicants to submit their applications within specific time windows. The last round took place in 2012, and the next one is expected to open in 2026. Due to concerns raised by the
Board, the <a href="https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2023/correspondence/ducos-to-icann-board-et-al-05sep23-en.pdf" title="https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2023/correspondence/ducos-to-icann-board-et-al-05sep23-en.pdf" target="_blank">GNSO
Council has expressed interest</a> in collaborating with the ICANN Board on the long-term evolution of the program, potentially moving away from the current round-based approach. Several issues have been identified with the round-based approach, including:<u></u><u></u></li></ul>
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<span style="color:black">1. <span> </span>Dealing with contention sets, which have proven to be one of the most complex and litigious part of the program.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">2. <span> </span>The costs and challenges of repeatedly switching the program on and off.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">3. <span> </span>The sense of scarcity and rush to apply created by limited application windows.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">This session will explore what a future New gTLD Program might look like if applications were submitted continuously, similar to ICANN’s approach for other programs like registrar accreditation. Key questions to consider include:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">· <span> </span>What advantages, if any, are there to maintaining the round-based system?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">· <span> </span>What challenges would arise from a continuously open New gTLD Program?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">· <span> </span>Are there alternative models that could address the identified issues?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">· <span> </span>Given current priorities, what is a realistic timeline for developing policies on this issue that would allow a different<span> </span> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color:black"> </span><span style="color:black">approach?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">Topic 2: RDRS Community Feedback</span></b><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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Led by Maarten Botterman and Wes Hardaker<u></u><u></u></li><li style="color:black;margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm">
Format of the engagement: discussion and soliciting input<u></u><u></u></li><li style="color:black;margin-top:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm">
Description: The Board seeks to understand the community’s perception of RDRS after nearly a year of operations, particularly whether the community agrees that the service could be a suitable permanent solution for access to registration data. This feedback
will help guide the Board’s next steps in discussions with the GNSO Council regarding the future of the EPDP Phase 2 policy recommendations for a System for a Standardized/Access Disclosure<u></u><u></u></li></ul>
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<span style="color:black">The Board looks forward to this engagement opportunity and encourages your active participation.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Please note that ICANN Staff will support this engagement session and take notes. However, there will be technical limitations in the breakout rooms, including the absence of interpretation and transcription services.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">As always, we will listen to your specific needs during our bilateral sessions. In keeping with our established practice, we will also ask a question to your Group ahead of our joint session in Istanbul. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<b><span style="color:black">- The Board has been continuing work on a Global Public Interest Framework in relation to ICANN policy making, and has recently finalised a draft GPI Framework Checklist. The Board is eager to hear feedback from the Council on this
checklist, including whether the Council feels this will be a useful policy development tool and any thoughts on how it could be further developed.<br>
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<span style="color:black">We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this soon.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black"> </span><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">We kindly request that you send any questions you would like the Board to address during our face-to-face meetings to Board Operations (</span><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:board-ops-team@icann.org" title="mailto:board-ops-team@icann.org" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-GB">board-ops-team@icann.org</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">).
Given the limited time for these meetings, please prioritize your questions in order of importance. </span><span style="color:black">We would appreciate receiving your questions no later than </span><b><span lang="SR-LATN-RS" style="color:black">Wednesday
30 October 2024.</span></b><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="color:black">Looking forward to our discussions during Prep Week and ICANN81!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">Best regards,</span><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">Tripti Sinha</span><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color:black">Chair, ICANN Board of Directors</span><span style="color:black"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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