LOS ANGELES – 25 March 2019 – The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) is extending the deadline for submitting expressions of interest (EOIs) to chair Phase 2 of the Expedited Policy Development Process (EPDP) on the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data to Monday, 8 April 2019. Learn more about the background by reading the announcement here.
Following the initial discussions of the EPDP Team during ICANN64 (March 2019) in Kobe, Japan, the GNSO Council leadership would like to provide some further details in relation to the expected workload and pace for Phase 2:
- The topics to be addressed in Phase 2 have been mapped out on the EPDP Team Phase 2 Mind Map.
- Following the appointment of the EPDP Team Chair, the EPDP Team is expected to commence with 90-minute weekly meetings (potentially on Tuesday or Thursday at 14:00 UTC) but with the possibility to increase the frequency. Additional meeting(s) may be purposed for either another weekly plenary session that would focus on a different stream of work or small team(s) meetings.
- Although there is agreement on the importance and urgency of addressing the topics in Phase 2, there is also general agreement that it is not sustainable to continue on the same pace and intensity of work as for Phase 1.
- Additional resources, such as mediation support, are expected to be made available to support the EPDP Team Chair, in addition to the support that is already being provided by policy staff. Candidates are encouraged to include in their EOI if there is any type of support or resource that is considered essential in supporting the EPDP Team Chair in his/her role.
- In light of this new information, the deadline for expressions of interest has been extended to Monday, 8 April 2019
About EPDP
On 17 May 2018, the ICANN Board approved the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data. The Board took this action to establish temporary requirements for how ICANN and its contracted parties would continue to comply with existing ICANN contractual requirements and community-developed policies related to WHOIS, while also complying with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Temporary Specification has been adopted under the procedure for Temporary Policies outlined in the Registry Agreement (RA) and Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA). Following adoption of the Temporary Specification, the Board “shall immediately implement the Consensus Policy development process set forth in ICANN’s Bylaws.” This Consensus Policy development process on the Temporary Specification would need to be carried out within a one-year period. Additionally, the scope includes discussion of a System for Standardized Access to Non-Public Registration Data. However, the discussion of a Standardized Access System will occur only after the EPDP Team has comprehensively answered a series of “gating questions” and non-objection by the GNSO Council.
About ICANN
ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.