Pre-ICANN59 Policy Report – GNSO

What to Expect at ICANN59

The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) is the policymaking body responsible for generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Its members include representatives from gTLD registries, ICANN-accredited registrars, intellectual property interests, Internet service providers, business, and non-commercial interests. The GNSO brings together these different stakeholders to develop gTLD policy recommendations using a bottom-up process, driven by working groups run by community volunteers.

ICANN59 is ICANN's second Policy Forum, which centers around policy development activities and promotes cross-community discussions of topics that affect the broader ICANN community. The GNSO community will use focused face-to-face sessions to progress its work on several important ongoing Policy Development Processes (PDPs). To complement these efforts, several cross-community discussions will focus on topics that feed into the work taking place in the GNSO. Furthermore, the GNSO will discuss the first-ever use of its process for amending policy recommendations before the ICANN Board acts on these recommendations.

ICANN59 will see the first Community Forum to be convened under the revised ICANN Bylaws. As the GNSO is a Decisional Participant in ICANN's Empowered Community, members of the GNSO are expected to actively participate in the Community Forum, providing input on a proposal to amend one of ICANN's Fundamental Bylaws.

Background

At ICANN59, the next-Generational Registration Directory Service (RDS) PDP Working Group (WG) will continue deliberating on key concepts and possible requirements for charter questions about RDS users/purposes, data elements, and privacy for "thin data". The New Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Subsequent Procedures PDP WG is expected to make progress on new gTLD policy and program implementation issues currently under discussion within the WG's four sub teams. The International Governmental Organization (IGO)-International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) Access to Curative Rights Protection Mechanisms PDP WG will present its draft Final Recommendations for community input. Finally, the Review of Rights Protection Mechanisms (RPMs) in All gTLDs PDP WG will continue its Phase One work, reviewing the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) and the various rights protection mechanisms offered through TMCH.

Cross-community discussion sessions bring together the entire community around areas of shared interest. The GNSO community will lead or co-lead some of these sessions at ICANN59. The cross-community discussion on the next-generation gTLD registration directory services policy requirements will support deliberations in the Next-Generation RDS PDP WG. Community feedback on key concepts related to the purposes of gTLD registration data and directory services, data elements required by those purposes, and related data protection and privacy requirement will assist the PDP WG to reach rough consensus agreements. The leadership in the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures PDP WG has planned two sessions of cross-community discussion on geographic names at the top-level. While geographic names are one of the many topics within the PDP WG's charter, it is an issue of wide community interest and divergent views, and subject to parallel community efforts that must be coordinated. The goal of these sessions is to help ICANN community discuss, understand, and collaborate on the development of a consensus-driven compromise solution. The cross-community discussion on the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDRP) will raise awareness of its impact on the Domain Name System (DNS) and its users, analyze how it may affect the services offered by registries and registrars, and identify potential next steps on current and future work in ICANN.

At ICANN59, the GNSO Council will discuss the progress of the policy amendment process on the protection of specific Red Cross and Red Crescent names at the top and second level in all gTLDs. This exceptional move resulted from discussions between the Board, Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), and GNSO at ICANN58, addressing the inconsistency between the GAC Advice and GNSO consensus recommendations on this topic. In response to Board request, the GNSO Council voted to reconvene the PDP WG which developed the original policy recommendations to consider whether two of the previous policy recommendations merit review or amendment.

The GNSO expects that by ICANN59 the revised GNSO Operating Procedures and ICANN Bylaws will be published for public comment. They will include new processes and procedures to help the GNSO take on its role as a Decisional Participant in the Empowered Community. Additionally, the GNSO Council expects to consider recommendations concerning the process and criteria for the permanent appointment of the GNSO Representative to the Empowered Community Administration.

Read the GNSO Policy Briefings for more information.

Session Details

Please see the ICANN59 schedule for details about sessions related to GNSO activities, including:

PDP WG Meetings

New gTLD Subsequent Procedures
Tuesday, 27 June | 08:30-12:00 | Committee 4

IGO-INGO Access to Curative Rights Protection Mechanisms
Tuesday, 27 June | 10:30-12:00 | Ballroom 2

Next-Generation RDS to Replace WHOIS  
Wednesday, 28 June | 08:30-12:00 | Ballroom 2

Review of RPMs in All gTLDs
Thursday, 29 June | 09:00-12:00 | Ballroom 2

Cross Community Sessions Led/Co-Led by GNSO

Next-Generation RDS Policy Requirements
Monday, 26 June | 15:15-18:30 | Ballroom 1

Empowered Community's Cross Community Forum on Proposed Fundamental Bylaws Amendments
Tuesday, 27 June | 08:00-09:00 | Ballroom 1

New gTLD Auction Proceeds Cross Community Working Group Face-to-Face Meeting
Tuesday, 27 June | 13:30-15:00 | Ballroom 2

GDRP: the Most Important Change in Data Privacy Regulation in Over 20 Years
Tuesday, 27 June | 15:15-16:45 | Ballroom 1

Geographic Names at the Top-Level Session I
Tuesday, 27 June | 17:00-18:30 | Bill Gallagher Room

Geographic Names at the Top-Level Session II
Thursday, 29 June | 15:15-18:30 | Ballroom 1

GNSO Council Meeting

GNSO Working Session
Monday, 26 June | 09:00-15:00 | Committee 4

GNSO/ Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Joint Council Meeting
Monday, 26 June | 18:30-19:30 | Ballroom 2

GNSO and GAC Meeting
Wednesday, 28 June | 11:30-12:30 | Ballroom 1

GNSO Council Public Meeting
Wednesday, 28 June | 13:00-15:00 | Ballroom 2

GNSO Council Wrap-Up Session
Thursday, 29 June | 13:30-15:00 | Ballroom 2

GNSO Outreach Sessions

GNSO Outreach – GNSO Policy Briefing
Monday-Thursday, 26-29 June | 08:00-08:30 | Committee 4

Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG) Outreach and Strategy Meeting
Monday, 26 June & Wednesday, 28 June | 08:00-08:30 | Ballroom 2
Thursday, 29 June | 08:00-09:00 | Ballroom 2