[council] Preliminary Report from ICANN Board meeting 17 Nov 2014

[Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:  https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2014-11-17-en



1. Consent Agenda:
 
a.  Approval of Board Meeting Minutes

Resolved (2014.11.17.01), the Board approves the minutes of its 16 and 28 
October 2014 meetings.

 
b.  Appointment of B-, C-, F-, and K- Root Server Operator Representatives to 
the RSSAC

Whereas, the ICANN Bylaws call for the establishment of a Root Server System 
Advisory Committee (RSSAC) with the role to advise the ICANN community and 
Board on matters relating to the operation, administration, security, and 
integrity of the Internet's Root Server System.

Whereas, the ICANN Bylaws call for Board appointment of RSSAC members based on 
recommendations from the RSSAC co-chairs.

Whereas, the RSSAC co-chairs recommended for Board consideration appointments 
to the RSSAC to represent the B-root, C-root, F-root, and K-root server 
operators.

Resolved (2014.11.17.02), the Board appoints the representatives for B-root, 
C-root, and K-root server operators, Bill Manning, Paul Vixie, Daniel 
Karrenberg, respectively, through 31 December 2017 and the representative for 
F-root server operator, Jim Martin, through 31 December 2015 to the Root Server 
System Advisory Committee.
 

 
c.  SSAC Advisory on DNS "Search List" Processing and DDos Attacks Leveraging 
DNS Infrastructure

Whereas, in February 2014, the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee 
(SSAC) published SAC064 [PDF, 931 KB]: SSAC Advisory on DNS "Search List" 
Processing and SAC065 [PDF, 423 KB]: SSAC Advisory on DDoS Attacks Leveraging 
DNS Infrastructure.

Whereas, in SAC 064, the advice highlights some of the DNS "search list" 
processing behavior presents security and privacy issues to end systems, lead 
to performance problems for the Internet, and might cause collision with names 
provisioned under the newly delegated top-level domains.

Whereas, in SAC 065, the advice recommends ICANN and operators of Internet 
infrastructure and manufacturers to take action to address the unresolved 
critical design and deployment issues that have enabled increasingly large and 
severe Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks using the DNS.

Whereas, while in some instances SAC 064 and SAC 065 call for actions not under 
ICANN's control and actors not necessarily within ICANN's usual community, they 
are meant to address the overall responsibilities of the multi-stakeholder 
community and encourage ICANN to take action where it is relevant to do so.

Whereas, ensuring the stable and secure operation of the Internet's system of 
unique identifiers is part of ICANN's mission; preserving and enhancing the 
operational stability, reliability, security, and global interoperability of 
the Internet part of ICANN's core value; and ensuring the introduction of new 
gTLDs in a secure and stable manner is a strategic priority for ICANN.

Resolved (2014.11.17.03), the Board acknowledges the receipt of SAC064: SSAC 
Advisory on Search List Processing, and SAC065: SSAC Advisory on DDoS Attacks 
Leveraging DNS Infrastructure.

Resolved (2014.11.17.04), the Board directs the President and CEO, or his 
designee(s), to evaluate the advice provided in SAC064 and SAC 065.

Resolved (2014.11.17.05), in the instances where it is recommended that the 
advice be accepted, the Board directs the President and CEO, or his 
designee(s), to evaluate the feasibility and cost of implementing the advice, 
and provide an implementation plan with timelines and high-level milestones for 
review by the Board, no later than 120 days from the adoption of this 
resolution.
 

 
d. Completion of the Address Supporting Organization (ASO) Organizational Review

Whereas, ICANN Bylaws Article IV, Section 4 call for a "periodic review of the 
performance and operation of each Supporting Organization, each Supporting 
Organization Council, each Advisory Committee (other than the Governmental 
Advisory Committee), and the Nominating Committee by an entity or entities 
independent of the organization under review";

Whereas, the Number Resource Organization (NRO) "shall provide its own review 
mechanisms" in reference to periodic review of the ASO, based on the terms of 
the ICANN Address Supporting Organization (ASO) Memorandum of Understanding 
dated 21 October 2004;

Whereas, the NRO completed the review of the ASO and the implementation work 
resulting from the recommendations offered by ITEMS International, the 
independent examiner engaged to conduct the ASO review.

RESOLVED (2014.11.17.06) that the Board accepts the final report from the 
Number Resource Organization (NRO) issued in the form of a letter to the Chair 
of the Structural Improvements Committee in November 2013 regarding the 
completion of implementation work resulting from the ASO Review. The Board 
thanks the NRO for its work in conducting the review and acknowledges the 
completion of the implementation work resulting from the recommendations 
received by the NRO during the review.

RESOLVED (2014.11.17.07) that the Board directs staff to provide support 
requested by the Chair of the NRO Executive Council, consisting of logistical 
staff support associated with ICANN meetings, allocation of time during ICANN 
meetings for ASO and NRO reports to the ICANN community, translation services 
and improved visibility on the ICANN web site.
 

 
2.  Main Agenda:
 
a.  Meeting Strategy Working Group (MSWG) Recommendations Implementation Plan 
for 2016

Whereas, ICANN intends to hold meetings in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Whereas, the Meeting Strategy Working Group produced a Final Report of 
recommendations to improve the overall structure and format of ICANN Meetings 
and on 26 June 2014 received the Board's gratitude for conducting this review.

Whereas, in furtherance of the Board's 26 June 2014, ICANN reviewed the MSWG 
Final Report and developed an implementation plan based on the recommendations 
within that Final Report, identifying implementation in the calendar year 2016. 
In addition, ICANN identifies a five (5) year schedule and regional rotation 
for ICANN Meetings through 2020.

Whereas, the five year schedule reflects the MSWG recommendations for timing 
and duration of ICANN Public Meetings.

Resolved (2014.11.17.08), the Board accepts all MSWG recommendations and 
directs the President and CEO, through his designee(s), to proceed with 
implementation. For recommendations on meeting support and engagement 
activities, focusing on technical support for remote participants and easing of 
future visa attainment for attendees, the Board directs the President and CEO 
to provide required support to obtain relevant metrics on recurring attendees.

Resolved (2014.11.17.09), the Board accepts the dates of Meetings to be held in 
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 as set forth in Annex 1 to this Resolution.

 
b. Planning for Future gTLD Application Rounds

Whereas, the New gTLD Program was developed and implemented based on consensus 
policy recommendations from the GNSO;

Whereas, ICANN undertook thorough consultation with the global stakeholder 
community in the development of the application and evaluation processes in the 
New gTLD Applicant Guidebook ("Applicant Guidebook");

Whereas, the GNSO policy recommendations provide that applications for new 
gTLDs should continue to be accepted in rounds;

Whereas, the Board has reaffirmed its commitment to opening a subsequent 
application round in a timely manner;

Whereas, the Board wishes to set the continuing direction for the New gTLD 
Program;

Whereas, ICANN is committed to executing a number of reviews as part of moving 
forward with subsequent rounds of the New gTLD Program;

Whereas, the Board wishes to ensure that the GNSO's deliberations on policy 
applicable to future rounds includes consideration of potential policy issues 
that were not addressed by the GNSO's 2007 policy recommendations, including 
issues that the NGPC was called on to address as implementation issues;

Resolved (2014.11.17.10), the Board directs the staff to continue working with 
the community to refine the work plan for executing all required reviews of the 
New gTLD Program and to provide regular updates to the community on the status 
and timeframes of review activities.

Resolved (2014.11.17.11), the Board notes the effort in progress within the 
GNSO to identify areas where the GNSO believes that policy advice can be 
clarified or where it wishes to provide additional policy advice applicable to 
future application rounds, and looks forward to the results of this work, to 
ensure that key policy areas are addressed for future rounds.

Resolved (2014.11.17.xx), the Board notes that the GNSO has invited the NGPC to 
provide input to the GNSO Council to identify areas that may be appropriate for 
discussion for an evaluation of the current gTLD application round and for 
possible adjustments for subsequent application procedures. The Board 
appreciates the request and has identified, in addition to the GNSO analysis of 
the Applicant Guidebook and the current application round, a set of topics 
(included as Annex A) that may be appropriate for discussion by the GNSO.
 

c. ICANN 53 Meeting Location

No resolution taken.