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ALAC Conference Call Minutes - ALAC Conference Call Minutes

Last Updated:
Date

Participants: Hong, Xue, Vittorio Bertola, Erick Iriarte, Sebastian
Ricciardi, Jean Armour Polly, Denise Michel, Bret Fausett, Pierre
Dandjinou, Izumi Aizu

Absent: Clement Dzidonu, Sunday Folayan, Annette Muehlberg, Wendy
Seltzer, Tadao Takahashi; Tommy Matsumoto and Roberto Gaetano notified
ALAC of conflicting meetings.

Agenda:

1. Budget Report
2. Self Review Update
3. Vancouver Update
4. Regional activities, At-Large organizing Update
5. Action on pending applications for "At-Large Structure" certification; revision of ALS certification process
6. Issues Update: WHOIS; new gTLDs; GNSO review

1. Current fiscal year funds for At-Large were frozen during the
Board's vote on the new budget at the Luxembourg meeting. The Board
froze funds for the budget category that included funding for regional
presences, the DNSSEC project, translations, and At-Large until
additional information is provided and further discussion occurs. "Freezing" these funds means that funds spent on these activities
cannot exceed last year's expenditure level. Denise is working with
ICANN staff to provide detailed information, and noted that, based on
the Board's discussion in Luxembourg, their intention was to freeze
funds for regional presences and DNSSEC project and not for At-Large
and translations. This is not expected to limit At-Large activities in
the next few months, given last year's At-Large expenditures. $381,000
was included in this fiscal year's budget for At-Large. $800,000 was
requested for At-Large. It is expected that the issues involved in the
frozen budget category will be resolved in the next month. Additional
information will be forthcoming.

2. The ALAC's self-review is progressing. Sebastian asked for
specific input from ALAC members and At-Large Structures, and is still
awaiting responses from some individuals. It is important that input be
received from each region. Sebastian will complete the first draft for
ALAC consideration next week (regardless of whether all input has been
submitted).

3. The North Americans (John, Jean, Wendy and Bret) have been
exchanging emails on plans for the December ICANN meeting in Vancouver.
They will provide a draft proposal for At-Large-related meetings and
events in Vancouver for ALAC consideration. The group has discussed
sponsoring a public forum involving Board members. Bret will liaise
with ICANN's Vancouver scheduling coordination group. Asia/Pacific
At-Large groups will meet in Vancouver to finalize plans for creating
the APRALO. A meeting of all At-Large (certified) groups from all
regions has been proposed, along with an "At-Large users" meeting.

4. Regional activities included reports on Asia/Pacific and Europe.
Asia/Pacific At-Large groups met in Taipei (with several participants
joining by phone) to discuss bylaws, charter, outreach and other plans
for forming an APRALO. Meeting minutes will be posted. An email
discussion list is being created. It is hoped that foundation documents
can be finalized in Vancouver. Hong emphasized the importance of
ensuring this process moves forward in an open and transparent fashion
and that we ensure that all interested groups in Asia/Pacific are able
to participate. A document proposing action for Europe At-Large groups
is being drafted by Vittorio as a follow-up to the EURALO formation
meeting held in Luxembourg in July. Pierre reported that additional
staff support is needed based in Africa to help advance At-Large
organizing there.

5. ALAC will individually notify ALS applicants on the results of
the ALAC's last round of voting. (Denise and Vittorio will coordinate
this). ALAC agreed to move forward with proposed revisions to ICANN's
bylaws that will lessen voting requirements for ALS certification and
streamline this process. Bylaw changes require Board action; Denise
will circulate draft proposal based on email discussions.

6. Bret reported that the GNSO is meeting via phone every two weeks
to address GNSO review. Bret distributed review proposals for ALAC
consideration. GNSO has proposed a set of policy development processes
(task forces) to address issues involved in the introduction of new
TLDs. Input on this proposal should be provided now, while it is under
consideration by the Board. Work of the WHOIS task forces continues. A
new task force has been formed to assess compliance with the transfer
policy. Denise/Bret will gather more information to determine if
At-Large membership is needed on the task force.