[council] FINAL Update for 24th Feb Council: Regarding work on measures for competition, consumer trust and consumer choice

["Rosemary Sinclair" <Rosemary.Sinclair@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Update Report on Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice 

There is support and interest in developing further developing ICANN's 
understanding and capacity to develop definitions, measure, monitor progress 
and achieve the commitments in the Affirmation of Commitments and the 
strategies outlined in ICANN's Strategic Plan in regard to:

*       Competition
*       Consumer Trust and 
*       Consumer Choice

The relevant Board Resolution (Cartagena) is:

Resolved (2010.12.10.30), the ICANN Board requests advice from the ALAC, GAC, 
GNSO and ccNSO on establishing the definition, measures, and three year targets 
for those measures, for competition, consumer trust and consumer choice in the 
context of the domain name system, such advice to be provided for discussion at 
the ICANN International Public meeting in San Francisco from 13-18 March 2011.

The context for this work by ICANN is the global recognition and growing 
importance that consumer protection is receiving from world regulators.  There 
is acknowledgment that increased competition is a good approach to ensuring 
strong consumer safeguards.

The issue of the timing of this work has been discussed (by email) with the 
Board, ICANN staff, ALAC, NCSG and the Chair of the Consumer Constituency.
A number of GNSO Council members have indicated their interest in contributing 
to this work.

ALAC has also indicated support for this work and the suggested approach.

NCSG and the Consumer Constituency have indicated their support for this 
approach. 

The suggested next step is an Open Forum at the June meeting.

It could be divided into three sections - competition, consumer trust and 
consumer choice.

A group (GNSO, ALAC, GAC) could be set up to prepare the Forum.

This group could invite proposals from speakers to present their views on each 
of those topics - perhaps 3 speakers per topic (10 mins each) with 10 mins for 
open mike comments - and aim to get a diversity of views.

A speaker would also provide a short paper setting out their views on the topic 
which will be made public. All speaker proposals will also be made public.
 
The Forum will create a body of useful material - that a staff person could 
turn into an initial paper for formal consideration by the GNSO.