<div>Worth a read.</div><div><br></div><div class="protonmail_signature_block "><div class="protonmail_signature_block-user "><div>- Ayden <br></div><div><br></div></div><div class="protonmail_signature_block-proton protonmail_signature_block-empty"><br></div></div><div><br></div><blockquote class="protonmail_quote" type="cite"><div>-------- Original Message --------<br></div><div>Subject: [Internet Policy] The 2-Character Answer to this GAC Advice Should be "No"<br></div><div>Local Time: May 16, 2017 3:43 PM<br></div><div>UTC Time: May 16, 2017 2:43 PM<br></div><div>From: psc@vlaw-dc.com<br></div><div>To: ISOC policy List <internetpolicy@elists.isoc.org><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">I have just published a new article regarding current ICANN developments between the Board and GAC. It can be found at <a href="http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170516_the_2_character_answer_to_this_gac_advice_should_be_no/" rel="noreferrer nofollow noopener"> http://www.circleid.com/posts/20170516_the_2_character_answer_to_this_gac_advice_should_be_no/</a></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Here’s the introduction—</span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><u><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Overview:</span></span></span></u></i><i><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> ICANN’s GAC has reacted to the ICANN Board’s
 November 2016 decision to authorize the release of two-character domains at new gTLDs with advice to the Board that does not   have true consensus backing from GAC members and that relates to procedure, not policy. The Board’s proper response should be to
 just say no,  stick to its decision and advise the GAC that it will not consider such advice.</span></span></span></i><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Instead, the Board has, against the preliminary advice of the policy-making GNSO Council, initiated discussions with aggrieved GAC members that may reopen
 its decision. Continuing down this dangerous path may provide governments with far more leverage over ICANN policy decisions than was ever envisioned or intended by the long debated and carefully crafted new Bylaws language addressing the Board’s responsibility
 to give attention to GAC advice.</span></span></span></i><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">I hope you find it of interest and welcome any feedback.</span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Best regards,</span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt">Philip</span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Virtualaw LLC</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">1155 F Street, NW</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Suite 1050</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Washington, DC 20004</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">202-559-8597/Direct</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">202-559-8750/Fax</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">202-255-6172/Cell</span></span></span></b><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"></span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> </span></span></span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">Twitter: @VlawDC</span></span></span></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"> </span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span class="colour" style="color:navy"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt">"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey</span></span></span></i></b><span class="colour" style="color:black"><span class="font" style="font-family:Tahoma, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:10pt"></span></span></span><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="colour" style="color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"><span class="font" style="font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span class="size" style="font-size:11pt"> </span></span></span><br></p></div></blockquote>