[council] FW: Public Interest within ICANN's remit

["James M. Bladel" <jbladel@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Council Colleagues -

Please see the note below from Nora Abusitta, who is coordinating the work of 
the Community to define ICANN's remit with respect to the "public interest."

There are links to additional background materials in Nora's message below, and 
stay tuned for future updates on this topic, including potential sessions at 
ICANN 55 in Morocco.

Thanks-

J.

From: Nora Abusitta <nora.abusitta@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:nora.abusitta@xxxxxxxxx>>
Date: Monday, December 21, 2015 at 21:28
Subject: Public Interest within ICANN's remit

Dear James,

Further to my participation in the GNSO Council meeting which discussed the 
topic of 'public interest', as promised, I am writing to update you regarding 
the topic of 'the public interest within ICANN's remit.'

Discussions on this topic have been ongoing for some time now, and in 2013, the 
Strategy Panel on the Public Responsibility 
Framework<https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/public-responsibility-2013-10-11-en>
 was tasked with exploring defining this term and the separate but related 
topic of public responsibility.

The Panel, informed by open discussions at ICANN meetings, webinars and through 
a public comment period, produced a report in May 2014, which proposed the 
definition of 'public interest' as follows:

"Ensuring that the Internet becomes, and continues to be, stable, inclusive, 
and accessible across the globe so that all may enjoy the benefits of a single 
and open Internet. In addressing its public responsibility, ICANN must build 
trust in the Internet and its governance ecosystem."

While some welcomed the report and recommendations, it is evident that there is 
a desire and need to further explore what the term 'public interest' means 
within ICANN's remit.

In response to requests to prepare for such exploration (at a time when all 
have sufficient bandwidth to do so) staff have been compiling some initial 
resources and research on this theme.

As per recommendations received during conversations on this preparatory work 
(such as on the GNSO call), these resources have been placed on a community 
wikispace on Confluence and can be located 
here<https://community.icann.org/x/epRYAw>. To facilitate discussion on next 
steps, a mailing list has also been created as a forum for dialogue and 
coordination, found here<https://mm.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/publicinterest>.

Additionally, a request has been submitted to hold a High Interest Session at 
ICANN55 that will be collaboratively designed, providing an informed and 
comprehensive base from which to initiate discussions on next steps.

This will require global, multistakeholder, bottom-up discussion and ICANN 
wants to make sure that, when the time is right, there are enough resources and 
background research available. We all will need to understand the operational, 
legal, and fiscal parameters and limitations to any potential definition(s). If 
you have specific suggestions or resources to add, please do not hesitate to 
get in contact.

I would be grateful if you could kindly socialize this wikispace and above 
information with your colleagues and encourage participation where possible to 
help guide this conversation.

Best wishes,

Nora


--
Nora Abusitta
Senior Vice President
Development and Public Responsibility Programs
ICANN