[council] Draft agenda for the GNSO Council Teleconference on 11 December 2014 at 15:00 UTC.

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Councillors,
Please find the proposed agenda for the GNSO Council Teleconference on 11 
December 2014 at 15:00 UTC.
https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/Agenda+11+December+2014
http://gnso.icann.org/en/meetings/agenda-council-11dec14-en.htm
This agenda was established according to the GNSO Council Operating 
Procedures<http://gnso.icann.org/en/council/op-procedures-13nov14-en.pdf> 
approved and updated on 13 November 2014.

For convenience:

  *   An excerpt of the ICANN Bylaws defining the voting thresholds is provided 
in Appendix 1 at the end of this agenda.
  *   An excerpt from the Council Operating Procedures defining the absentee 
voting procedures is provided in Appendix 2 at the end of this agenda.

Meeting Time 15:00 UTC:
http://tinyurl.com/mwphzsc

Coordinated Universal Time 15:00 UTC
07:00 Los Angeles; 10:00 Washington; 15:00 London; 16:00 Brussels; 23:00 Perth

GNSO Council meeting audio cast

http://stream.icann.org:8000/gnso.m3u

Councillors should notify the GNSO Secretariat in advance if a dial out call is 
needed.
Item 1: Administrative matters (5 mins)
1.1 Roll Call
1.2 Statement of interest updates
1.3 Review/amend agenda
1.4. Note the status of minutes for the previous Council meeting per the GNSO 
Operating Procedures:
Minutes of the GNSO Council Public 
meeting<http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg16901.html> and 
the Administrative meeting of the new 
Council<http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg16902.html> on 
15 October 2014 and the GNSO Council meeting 13 November 
2014<http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg16903.html> will 
be posted as approved on 7 December 2014.
Item 2: Opening Remarks / Review of Projects & Action List (10 mins)
Review focus areas and provide updates on specific key themes / topics
Include review of Projects 
List<http://gnso.icann.org/meetings/projects-list.pdf> and Action 
List<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/Action+Items>.
Comments or questions arising.
Item 3: Consent agenda (5 mins)

Item 4: DISCUSSION - Board Working Group Report on the Nominating Committee (10 
mins)
ICANN posted for public comment the report prepared by the Board Working Group 
on Nominating Committee (BWG-NomCom). The Board stated that it welcomes input 
from the community on the BWG-NomCom report as the recommendations in the 
BWG-NomCom report have potential effects on the NomCom structure.

If implemented, the recommendations would result in an increase in the number 
of appointees from ccNSO and ASO and a reduction in the GNSO appointees. Also, 
GAC representation could increase at GAC discretion. Overall, the size of the 
NomCom would increase from 21 to 25-27 individuals.

The deadline for comments was 21 October, followed by a reply period, extended 
to 9 January.<https://www.icann.org/public-comments/bwg-nomcom-2014-08-21-en> 
Here, the Council will consider whether to submit input on behalf of the 
Council to the public comment forum and, if so, the content of such input.

4.1 
Update<http://gnso.icann.org/correspondence/council-comment-nomcom-recommendations-02dec14-en.pdf>
 (Tony Holmes)
4.2 Discussion
4.3 Next steps

Item 5: UPDATE - Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN 
Accountability (15 mins)

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has 
requested that ICANN "convene a multistakeholder process to develop a plan to 
transition the U.S. government stewardship role" with regard to the IANA 
Functions and related root zone management.

During discussions around the transition process, the community raised the 
broader topic of the impact of the change on ICANN's accountability given its 
historical contractual relationship with the United States and NTIA. The 
concerns raised during these discussions around the transition process indicate 
that the level of trust into the existing ICANN accountability mechanisms does 
not yet meet some stakeholder's expectations. Considering that the NTIA has 
stressed that it was expecting community consensus regarding the transition, 
this gap between the current situation and stakeholder expectations may prevent 
the transition to proceed.

As a result, a DT was formed with participants, amongst others, from the ccNSO, 
GNSO, ASO and ALAC to develop a charter for a Cross Community Working Group on 
Enhancing ICANN Accountability. The DT delivered the proposed charter for 
consideration to all the ICANN Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees 
on 3 November 2014 and the charter was adopted by the GNSO Council during its 
meeting on 13 November. .



Here the Council will receive an update on status and activities of the CCWG to 
date.

5.1 Update (Thomas Rickert)
5.2 Discussion
5.3 Next steps

Item 6: DISCUSSION - Prospective policy work on "name collision" (15 mins)
On the 30 July 2014, the New gTLD Program Committee of the ICANN Board directed 
staff to "provide information to, and work with the GNSO to consider whether 
policy work on developing a long-term plan to manage gTLD name collision issues 
should be undertaken."

ICANN Staff submitted this paper to the GNSO Council on 7 October 2014 (see 
https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/name-collision-gnso-policy-07oct14-en.pdf)
 and it was presented to the Council during the ICANN meeting in Los Angeles. 
Council members agreed in Los Angeles to discuss with their respective group 
what further action, if any, should be taken on this topic and report back 
accordingly during this meeting.

Furthermore, a 
letter<http://gnso.icann.org/en/correspondence/namazi-to-robinson-30oct14-en.pdf>
 was received from Cyrus Namazi offering any additional information or 
assistance that ICANN Staff can provide to further assist the Council in its 
deliberations.

The GNSO Council discussed the topic during its last meeting following which 
all Councilors were encouraged to discuss with their respective groups what, if 
any, policy development is deemed necessary and to provide that feedback during 
this meeting.

6.1 Discussion
6.2 Next steps
Item 7: DISCUSSION - Board resolution concerning future gTLD Application Rounds 
(15 mins)
On 17 November 2014 the ICANN Board adopted a resolution the planning for 
future gTLD application rounds. As part of its action, the Board acknowledged 
the effort and 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. Furthermore, 
as requested in the GNSO Council's June 2014 resolution, the Board provided 
input into the GNSO Council's discussion to identify areas that the Board 
believes may be appropriate for discussion in an evaluation of the current gTLD 
application round and for possible adjustments for subsequent application 
procedures.
This is an opportunity for the GNSO Council to review and discuss the input 
received.

7.1 - Update
7.2 - Discussion

Item 8: UPDATE - GNSO / GAC Consultation Group and related work (15 mins)
Here the Council will have an opportunity to hear about the work of the GNSO / 
GAC Consultation Group and from the GNSO Liaison to the GAC including any 
initial input and feedback derived following the ICANN meeting in Los Angeles.
In addition, there will be an opportunity to further discuss ideas put forward 
during the GNSO Council Development Session in relation to potential GNSO work 
in response to the GAC Communiqué from ICANN meetings.
8.1 - Update (Mason Cole / Volker Greimann)
8.2 - Discussion
Item 9: UPDATE  - Cross Community Working Group to develop a transition 
proposal for IANA stewardship on naming related functions (15 mins)
Following adoption of the 
charter<http://gnso.icann.org/en/drafts/iana-stewardship-naming-function-charter-14aug14-en.pdf>,
 this is an opportunity for the Council to receive a brief update on the 
current status as well as next steps of this CWG. The CWG has been tasked to 
develop an IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal on Naming Related Functions and 
has been meeting for 2 hours every week since its creation in view of 
delivering a final proposal by the end of January 2015. A number of sub-groups 
have been formed to progress work on the different elements of the ICG Request 
for Proposals and a face-to-face meeting is being planned for mid-November. A 
draft proposal will be published for community comment on 1 December. For 
further information, see https://community.icann.org/x/37fhAg.
9.1 - Update (Jonathan Robinson)
9.2 - Next steps
Item 10 Any Other Business (10 mins)
10.1 Correspondence with NGPC on IGO & RCRC. Any update?
10.2 Skill sets for Nominating Committee. Complete?
10.3 
Letter<http://gnso.icann.org/en/correspondence/lange-et-al-to-gac-02dec14-en.pdf>
 to the GAC sub-working group on geographic names from Cross-Constituency 
Working Group on Country and Territory Names (CWG) - Confirmation of no 
objection?


Appendix 1: GNSO Council Voting Thresholds (ICANN Bylaws, Article X, Section 3)
9. Except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws, Annex A hereto, or the GNSO 
Operating Procedures, the default threshold to pass a GNSO Council motion or 
other voting action requires a simple majority vote of each House. The voting 
thresholds described below shall apply to the following GNSO actions:
a. Create an Issues Report: requires an affirmative vote of more than 
one-fourth (1/4) vote of each House or majority of one House.
b. Initiate a Policy Development Process ("PDP") Within Scope (as described in 
Annex A<http://www.icann.org/en/about/governance/bylaws#AnnexA>): requires an 
affirmative vote of more than one-third (1/3) of each House or more than 
two-thirds (2/3) of one House.
c. Initiate a PDP Not Within Scope: requires an affirmative vote of GNSO 
Supermajority.
d. Approve a PDP Team Charter for a PDP Within Scope: requires an affirmative 
vote of more than one-third (1/3) of each House or more than two-thirds (2/3) 
of one House.
e. Approve a PDP Team Charter for a PDP Not Within Scope: requires an 
affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority.
f. Changes to an Approved PDP Team Charter: For any PDP Team Charter approved 
under d. or e. above, the GNSO Council may approve an amendment to the Charter 
through a simple majority vote of each House.
g. Terminate a PDP: Once initiated, and prior to the publication of a Final 
Report, the GNSO Council may terminate a PDP only for significant cause, upon a 
motion that passes with a GNSO Supermajority Vote in favor of termination.
h. Approve a PDP Recommendation Without a GNSO Supermajority: requires an 
affirmative vote of a majority of each House and further requires that one GNSO 
Council member representative of at least 3 of the 4 Stakeholder Groups 
supports the Recommendation.
i. Approve a PDP Recommendation With a GNSO Supermajority: requires an 
affirmative vote of a GNSO Supermajority,
j. Approve a PDP Recommendation Imposing New Obligations on Certain Contracting 
Parties: where an ICANN contract provision specifies that "a two-thirds vote of 
the council" demonstrates the presence of a consensus, the GNSO Supermajority 
vote threshold will have to be met or exceeded.
k. Modification of Approved PDP Recommendation: Prior to Final Approval by the 
ICANN Board, an Approved PDP Recommendation may be modified or amended by the 
GNSO Council with a GNSO Supermajority vote.
l. A "GNSO Supermajority" shall mean: (a) two-thirds (2/3) of the Council 
members of each House, or (b) three-fourths (3/4) of one House and a majority 
of the other House."
Appendix 2: Absentee Voting Procedures (GNSO Operating Procedures 
4.4<http://gnso.icann.org/council/gnso-operating-procedures-22sep11-en.pdf>)
4.4.1 Applicability
Absentee voting is permitted for the following limited number of Council 
motions or measures.
a. Initiate a Policy Development Process (PDP);
b. Approve a PDP recommendation;
c. Recommend amendments to the GNSO Operating Procedures (GOP) or ICANN Bylaws;
d. Fill a Council position open for election.
4.4.2 Absentee ballots, when permitted, must be submitted within the announced 
time limit, which shall be 72 hours from the meeting's adjournment. In 
exceptional circumstances, announced at the time of the vote, the Chair may 
reduce this time to 24 hours or extend the time to 7 calendar days, provided 
such amendment is verbally confirmed by all Vice-Chairs present.
4.4.3 The GNSO Secretariat will administer, record, and tabulate absentee votes 
according to these procedures and will provide reasonable means for 
transmitting and authenticating absentee ballots, which could include voting by 
telephone, e- mail, web-based interface, or other technologies as may become 
available.
4.4.4 Absentee balloting does not affect quorum requirements. (There must be a 
quorum for the meeting in which the vote is initiated.)
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Please let me know if there are any questions.
Thank you
Kind regards,

Glen

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