[council] Phase II of Public Comments Process Enhancements - call for comments

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-31aug11-en.htm
Phase II of Public Comments Process Enhancements

Comment Period Deadlines (*)

Important Information Links

Public Comment 
Box<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-enhancements-ii-31aug11-en.htm>

Open Date:

31 August 2011

To Submit Your Comments (Forum)<mailto:public-comment-enhancements-ii@xxxxxxxxx>

Close Date:

Comments: 30 Sep 2011
Replies: 15 Oct 2011
(see note in Section I)

Time (UTC):

23:59

View Comments 
Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/public-comment-enhancements-ii/>

Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose


ICANN Staff requests community feedback concerning implementation 
plans<http://www.icann.org/en/accountability/atrt-report-25jun11-en.pdf> [PDF, 
876 KB] for three specific Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT) 
recommendations (#15, 16, and 17) that affect the way ICANN publishes and 
manages Public Comments. These ATRT recommendations, which comprise Phase II of 
the Public Comments Improvement program, address:

 *   Stratification: Categorize topics to assist the community understand the 
subject matter and inform a participation decision.
 *   Prioritization: Assist community members in determining the importance or 
urgency of a solicitation by providing key information.
 *   Comment/Reply Cycles: Structure the community's input process into an 
initial period for submitting new comments followed by a separate reply period 
during which community respondents would be able to address and rebut arguments 
raised in opposing parties' previous comments.

A fourth area involving Technical Forum Improvements is also incorporated into 
this solicitation.

A Focus Group was organized in July 2011 to provide input concerning various 
implementation scenarios related to the topics mentioned above. The Focus Group 
held its deliberations in ICANN's Wiki environment from 20 July 2011 through 19 
August 2011. A summary 
report<https://community.icann.org/download/attachments/17466351/Report+of+Public+Comment+Focus+Group+Feedback+%28FINAL%29.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1314282891698>
 [PDF, 162 KB] of the group's activities has been prepared and the Wiki space 
in which the Focus Group worked is accessible for viewing at: 
https://community.icann.org/x/74MKAQ.

The attached 
report<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comments-process-enhancements-phase-ii-31aug11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 148 KB] addresses the four enhancement areas each in a separate section 
that incorporates Staff implementation recommendations, Focus Group input where 
applicable, and additional questions to stimulate community feedback concerning 
these processes.
Note: As an initial test of this concept, the comment forum on this paper will 
introduce a Reply Cycle. At the conclusion of the initial comment period (30 
September) and assuming that on-topic submissions have been received, the 
comment period will be extended for an additional 15 days (15 October). During 
this extension, contributors are asked to address any additional submissions to 
previously posted comments. For each such reply, it will be helpful to everyone 
for the contributor to cite the original poster's name, comment date, and any 
particular text that is pertinent. At the conclusion of the full comment 
period, ICANN plans to seek feedback concerning the process and what changes or 
enhancements might make it more useful and productive. A consolidated report of 
the forum submissions will incorporate both the initial comment and subsequent 
reply periods.

Section II: Background


The Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT) submitted a report to 
the ICANN Board on 31 December 2010 containing 27 recommendations, three of 
which (#15, 16, and 17) address improvements concerning how Public Comments are 
announced, published, and managed. At its 24 June 2011 meeting, ICANN Board 
accepted the implementation plans developed by ICANN Staff regarding these 
recommendations.

These plans were organized into two major phases based upon complexity and the 
ability to effectuate short-term improvements.

A set of Phase I activities was implemented effective 30 June 2011. In that 
first phase, Staff completely redesigned web pages, added new navigation menus, 
streamlined Announcement and Public Comment Box formats, and introduced an 
"Upcoming Topics" feature. Staff also created internal document templates to 
facilitate publication and ensure presentation consistency. We also added new 
standardized data fields across all solicitations (e.g., Originating 
Organization, Purpose, Current Status, Next Steps) and clarified opening and 
closing dates and times.

Phase II of this initiative addresses enhancements involving: Stratification, 
Prioritization, Comment/Reply Cycles, and Technical Forum Improvements. Please 
see the attached 
report<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comments-process-enhancements-phase-ii-31aug11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 148 KB] for further information on each of these improvement areas.

Section III: Document and Resource Links


The following documents and reference links are provided to assist community 
members in contributing to this solicitation:

 *   Main Report: Public Comments Proposed Process Enhancements-Phase 
II<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comments-process-enhancements-phase-ii-31aug11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 148 KB]
 *   Board Action on, and Implementation of, the Accountability & Transparency 
Review Team Final Report June 
2011<http://www.icann.org/en/accountability/atrt-report-25jun11-en.pdf> [PDF, 
876 KB]
 *   Public Comment Focus Group 
Report<https://community.icann.org/download/attachments/17466351/Report+of+Public+Comment+Focus+Group+Feedback+%28FINAL%29.pdf?version=1&modificationDate=1314282891698>
 [PDF, 162 KB]
 *   Public Comment Focus Group Wiki Forum<https://community.icann.org/x/74MKAQ>

Section IV: Additional Information

None

Staff Contact:

Filiz Yilmaz

Email:

participate@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:participate@xxxxxxxxx?subject=More%20information%20on%20Phase%20II%20of%20Public%20Comments%20Process%20Enhancements%20public%20comment%20period>








Glen de Saint Géry

GNSO Secretariat

gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://gnso.icann.org