[council] Proposed Modification of GNSO PDP Manual to Address the Suspension of a PDP

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/pdp-suspension-07mar13-en.htm
Proposed Modification of GNSO PDP Manual to Address the Suspension of a PDP
Comment / Reply Periods (*)
Comment Open Date:
7 March 2013
Comment Close Date:
6 April 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Reply Open Date:
7 April 2013
Reply Close Date:
28 April 2013 - 23:59 UTC
Important Information Links
Public Comment 
Announcement<https://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-07mar13-en.htm>
To Submit Your Comments 
(Forum)<mailto:comments-pdp-suspension-07mar13@xxxxxxxxx>
View Comments 
Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/comments-pdp-suspension-07mar13/>
Brief Overview
Originating Organization:
Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO)
Categories/Tags:

 *   Policy Processes
 *   Reviews/Improvements
Purpose (Brief):

The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Standing Committee on 
Improvements Implementation (SCI) is recommending a modification of the GNSO 
Policy Development Process (PDP) Manual, which is an integral part of the GNSO 
Operating Procedures, to address the possible termination or suspension of a 
PDP.
Current Status:

As required by the ICANN Bylaws, a public comment forum is hereby initiated on 
the proposed changes prior to GNSO Council consideration.
Next Steps:

Following the closing of the public comment forum, the SCI will review the 
comments received; revise its recommendations, if deemed appropriate, and; 
submit these to the GNSO Council for approval
Staff Contact:
Julie Hedlund
Email Staff 
Contact<mailto:policy-staff@xxxxxxxxx?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Proposed%20Modification%20of%20GNSO%20PDP%20Manual%20to%20Address%20the%20Suspension%20of%20a%20PDP%20public%20comment%20period>
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose:

Having encountered the need to suspend a PDP for a limited amount of time, the 
GNSO Council realized that currently the Policy Development Process (PDP) 
Manual does not contain a specific provision on how to deal with such a 
situation. As a result, the GNSO Council requested the SCI in April 2012 to 
review whether there should be a modification to the GNSO PDP (PDP) Manual to 
address the possible suspension of a PDP following its initiation. After 
reaching consensus the SCI opened a public comment 
period<https://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/gnso-pdp-manual-22oct12-en.htm>
 on 22 October 2012 on proposed modifications to the PDP Manual.  Upon the 
close of that period on 03 December 2013, the SCI further deliberated on the 
procedures and reached consensus on further modifications to the PDP Manual to 
address termination and suspension of a PDP.  These proposed modifications to 
the existing provision on terminating a PDP (section 15) are as follows, with 
additions in bold and deletions stricken:

The GNSO Council may terminate or suspend* a PDP prior to the publication of a 
Final Report only for significant cause, upon a motion that passes with a 
Supermajority Vote in favour of termination or suspension. The following are 
illustrative examples of possible reasons for a premature termination or 
suspension of a PDP:

 1.  Deadlock. The PDP Team is hopelessly deadlocked and unable to identify 
recommendations or statements that have either the strong support or a 
consensus of its members despite significant time and resources being dedicated 
to the PDP;
 2.  Changing Circumstances. Events have occurred since the initiation of the 
PDP that have rendered the PDP moot, or no longer necessary; or warranting a 
suspension; or
 3.  Lack of Community Volunteers. Despite several calls for participation, the 
work of the PDP Team is significantly impaired and unable to effectively 
conclude its deliberations due to lack of volunteer participation.

In the case of a proposed termination of a PDP prior to the issuance of a Final 
Report or suspension of a PDP upon the recommendation of the PDP Team, the GNSO 
liaison to the PDP Team shall promptly submit to the Council a written 
Termination Summary or Suspension Summary specifying the reasons for the 
recommended action to be taken and, if applicable, the points of view 
represented in the PDP Team and the consensus status (as defined by the GNSO 
Working Group Guidelines) at the time such action is recommended. In the event 
that no PDP Team has been formed or there is no recommendation from the PDP 
Team for a proposed termination or suspension by the GNSO Council, any GNSO 
Council member may propose termination or suspension of a PDP.  In the case of 
such a proposal, the GNSO Council will publicly specify the reasons for the 
recommended action and will conduct a public comment forum on the proposed 
termination or suspension prior to conducting the vote.

Upon the request of any Council Member, Advisory Committee or the ICANN Board, 
the GNSO Council will prepare a formal report on the proposed termination or 
suspension of a PDP outlining the reasons for the proposed action, current 
status of the PDP and expected next steps, if any.

*Suspension is a stated time interval during which there is a temporary 
cessation of the PDP, i.e. all activities are temporarily halted upon a 
decision of the GNSO Council. A mere change in milestones or schedule of the 
PDP is not considered a suspension.

As required by the ICANN Bylaws, the SCI is requesting community input on these 
proposed modifications to the GNSO Operating Procedures.
Section II: Background:

The Standing Committee on Improvements Implementation (SCI) was established by 
the GNSO Council on 7 April 2011 to be responsible for reviewing and assessing 
the effective functioning of recommendations provided by the Operational 
Steering Committee (OSC) and Policy Process Steering Committee (PPSC) and 
approved by the GNSO Council. For further information about the SCI and its 
activities, please see https://community.icann.org/display/gnsosci/Home.
Section III: Document and Resource Links:

Current version of the GNSO PDP Manual - see 
http://gnso.icann.org/council/annex-2-pdp-manual-16dec11-en.pdf [PDF, 126 KB].
Section IV: Additional Information:

Not applicable

________________________________

(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to 
be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making 
that takes place once this period lapses.


Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://gnso.icann.org