[ga] Names Council Resolution on restructuring

[Thomas Roessler <roessler@does-not-exist.org>]

Alexander just forwarded the following document to the Names Council 
list.

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Names Council Resolution on restructuring proposal: "The Case for Reform"

Background 

ICANN's core mission is to create an effective private sector 
development process capable of administrative and policy management 
of the Internet's numbering and address allocation systems, based on 
a consensus policy process.  ICANN was created approximately 4 years 
ago, after an extensive international consultative process with the 
broad Internet stakeholder community.  After a number of other 
efforts to create an international approach to privatizing 
management of key technical functions of the Internet, ICANN 
represents a consensus, which drew together a very diverse set of 
stakeholders.  As part of the stakeholder agreements, certain goals 
for ICANN were embodied in the Memorandum of Understanding, signed 
with the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding deliverables to 
demonstrate progress toward the global DNS management and 
coordination. 

ICANN has a fourth anniversary of the MOU in September 30, 2002, and 
faces a serious challenges demonstrating progress on some core 
issues, including relationships with ccTLDs, RIRs and the root 
server operators.  In order to further develop and maintain 
international community support, ICANN must demonstrate broadening 
international participation and support..

The Names Council had established a Structure Task Force to address 
a number of proposals for restructuring; it has drafted an interim 
report on the policy implications of the At Large Study Committee's 
Final Report.  The Task Force was also anticipating receiving the 
ccTLD Supporting Organization draft, when n late February, M.Stuart 
Lynn, ICANN President and CEO released a report to the community 
entitled: "A Case for Reform." 

The report includes an extensive assessment of what ICANN's 
challenges are, describes the critical need to take urgent steps to 
address these challenges, and makes an extensive set of 
restructuring recommendations.  The paper presents the vision that, 
without broad and deep structural changes, sufficient progress will 
not be made in addressing these challenges, thus threatening ICANN's 
ability to succeed, and indeed, survive.  Further, the position 
presented in the paper is that without significant changes in 
structure and funding, ICANN can not make sufficient progress on the 
MOU's core requirements. 

The Call for Reform identifies four areas:
	Board selection and role
	Policy Development and Process
	Transparency and Accountability
	Funding

The paper identifies the priorities as: the participation of key 
stakeholders, avoiding too much process, and the lack of both 
stable, and sufficient funding.  

The paper paints a rather dire view of ICANN's situation, driven by 
these problems, and calls for a restructuring in ways which will 
challenge many of the original consensus agreements among parties, 
including the technical community. 

While different views, and in many cases, serious questions are 
being heard about the solutions which are proposed in the paper, 
there seems to be broad agreement that the paper identifies core 
problem areas where significant progress and improvement is 
critical. 

 Whereas:

The Names Council has created a Structure Task Force, with 
representation of each constituency and the GA, and chaired by the 
NC chair, which is responsible for assessing restructuring 
proposals, including policy making within the DNSO and ICANN's 
decision making, and providing recommendations to the NC based on 
these assessments.  

The first work of the Structure TF was consideration of policy 
aspects related to the final report of the At Large Study Committee 
which is under development as a draft Interim Report of the Task 
Force.  The TF anticipates addressing the imminent ccTLD Supporting 
Organization proposal when it is received.  The TF intends to review 
its recommendations and address additional issues raised in "The 
Case for Reform".

The Names Council acknowledges the critical nature of the 
challenges, which are identified in the "The Case for Reform" and 
the serious implications for ICANN's success, effectiveness and 
survival. 



The Names Council agrees that ICANN needs significant improvement in 
many core areas; among them funding, key stakeholder support, 
participation and relationships; however, the Names Council also 
recognizes that over its short four year existence, significant 
progress has been made in a number of key areas and that parts of 
the current structure are functioning well.  

The Names Council is concerned by the solutions proposed in the 
paper and advises the Board and the Staff that the issues of ICANN 
stability are of priority concern.  The DNSO remains committed to 
the original vision of a consensus, based on bottom up policy 
development process and to private sector leadership. 

Therefore:

The Names Council advises the Board and Staff that the Structure 
Task Force has begun a process to respond to the President's Reform 
Proposal, including development and consideration of alternative 
solutions, and will present preliminary findings in mid April to the 
Names Council at a scheduled NC call. A draft report will be 
completed by May.  
 
The NC further advises the Board, staff and the community that they 
recognize that the problems facing ICANN are significant and call 
for support from interested stakeholders to participate in any 
proven need for restructuring.


-- 
Thomas Roessler                        http://log.does-not-exist.org/
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