[NCSG-EC] Fwd: ICANN81 Stakeholders/Board sessions

[Johan Helsingius]

The deadline (Wednesday) is approaching rapidly. So far I have only
gotten one input (thank you Pedro!).

Please add your input/questions to this google doc:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ebLmTXpm-eGeVSUzmt7HD5t7vDgcRT26S3Sj4lkYKtM/edit?usp=sharing

	Julf

On 14/10/2024 15:47, Johan Helsingius wrote:
> Any topics you think we should bring up in our meeting with the Board?
> 
> "We kindly request that you send any questions you would like the Board
>   to address during our face-to-face meetings to Board Operations (board-
>   ops-team at icann.org). Given the limited time for these meetings, please
>   prioritize your questions in order of importance. We would appreciate
>   receiving your questions no later than Wednesday 30 October 2024."
> 
>      Julf
> 
> 
> -------- Forwarded Message --------
> Subject:     ICANN81 Stakeholders/Board sessions
> Date:     Tue, 8 Oct 2024 06:15:40 +0000
> From:     Vinciane Koenigsfeld <vinciane.koenigsfeld at icann.org>
> To:     julf at julf.com <julf at julf.com>, benakin at gmail.com 
> <benakin at gmail.com>, jumaropi at yahoo.com <jumaropi at yahoo.com>, 
> mcknight.glenn at gmail.com <mcknight.glenn at gmail.com>
> CC:     Carlos Reyes <carlos.reyes at icann.org>, Michelle Bright 
> <michelle.bright at icann.org>, Board Ops Team <board-ops-team at icann.org>, 
> Mary Wong <mary.wong at icann.org>
> 
> 
> 
> /Sent on behalf of Tripti Sinha, Chair, ICANN Board of Directors///
> 
> DearNon/c//ommercial Stakeholder Group///Leaders,
> 
> Our Annual General Meeting (9-14 November) is approaching quickly, and 
> the Board and I are looking forward to meeting with all of you in Istanbul.
> 
> It will be our final meeting of 2024, a year marked by both challenges 
> and progress. Notably, we celebrated the selection of our new CEO, 
> Kurtis Lindqvist, who will soon officially take on the role.
> 
> As we finalize our new five-year Strategic Plan and continue 
> collaborating on key projects critical to ICANN’s future—including the 
> launch of the Next Round of new gTLDs— we remain committed to 
> strengthening our partnership. In keeping with our practice before 
> ICANN79, the Board plans to hold an open engagement session during Prep 
> Week of ICANN81, allowing interested community members to engage 
> directly with the Board on specific topics. *This session will be held 
> on 28 October at 15:00 UTC.*
> 
> The 60-minute session will feature two breakout rooms, each hosted by 
> different Board members and focused on distinct topics. After a brief 
> welcome plenary, participants will be invited to join one of the two 
> breakout rooms for a 45-minute discussion with the Board hosts. 
> Attendees will have the flexibility to move between the breakout rooms. 
> The session will conclude with a summary from each Board host on the 
> discussions held in their respective breakout rooms.
> 
> **
> 
> *Topic 1:Future of the new gTLD Program: Applications in rounds or 
> continuously accepting applications (first come, first serve)?*
> 
>    * Led by Becky Burr and Alan Barrett
>    * Format of the engagement: discussion and soliciting input
>    * Description: To date, the new gTLD Program has operated in rounds,
>      allowing applicants to submit their applications within specific
>      time windows. The last round took place in 2012, and the next one is
>      expected to open in 2026. Due to concerns raised by the Board, the
>      GNSO Council has expressed interest
> 
> <https://gnso.icann.org/sites/default/files/policy/2023/correspondence/ducos-to-icann-board-et-al-05sep23-en.pdf> in
>      collaborating with the ICANN Board on the long-term evolution of the
>      program, potentially moving away from the current round-based
>      approach. Several issues have been identified with the round-based
>      approach, including:
> 
> 1. Dealing with contention sets, which have proven to be one of the most 
> complex and litigious part of the program.
> 
> 2. The costs and challenges of repeatedly switching the program on and off.
> 
> 3. The sense of scarcity and rush to apply created by limited 
> application windows.
> 
> This session will explore what a future New gTLD Program might look like 
> if applications were submitted continuously, similar to ICANN’s approach 
> for other programs like registrar accreditation. Key questions to 
> consider include:
> 
> · What advantages, if any, are there to maintaining the round-based system?
> 
> · What challenges would arise from a continuously open New gTLD Program?
> 
> · Are there alternative models that could address the identified issues?
> 
> · Given current priorities, what is a realistic timeline for developing 
> policies on this issue that would allow a different
> 
> approach?
> 
> *Topic 2: RDRS Community Feedback*
> 
>    * Led by Maarten Botterman and Wes Hardaker
>    * Format of the engagement: discussion and soliciting input
>    * Description: The
>      Board seeks to understand the community’s perception of RDRS
>      after nearly a year of operations, particularly whether the
>      community agrees that the service could be a suitable permanent
>      solution for access to registration data. This feedback will help
>      guide the Board’s next steps in discussions with the GNSO Council
>      regarding the future of the EPDP Phase 2 policy recommendations for
>      a System for a Standardized/Access Disclosure
> 
> The Board looks forward to this engagement opportunity and encourages 
> your active participation.
> 
> Please note that ICANN Staff will support this engagement session and 
> take notes. However, there will be technical limitations in the breakout 
> rooms, including the absence of interpretation and transcription services.
> 
> As always, we will listen to your specific needs during our bilateral 
> sessions. In keeping with our established practice, we will also ask a 
> question to your Group ahead of our joint session in Istanbul.
> 
> *- The Board has been continuing work on a Global Public Interest 
> Framework in relation to ICANN policy making, and has recently finalised 
> a draft GPI Framework Checklist. The Board is eager to hear feedback 
> from the Council on this checklist, including whether the Council feels 
> this will be a useful policy development tool and any thoughts on how it 
> could be further developed.
> 
> *
> 
> We look forward to hearing your thoughts on this soon.
> 
> We kindly request that you send any questions you would like the Board 
> to address during our face-to-face meetings to Board Operations 
> (board-ops-team at icann.org <mailto:board-ops-team at icann.org>). Given the 
> limited time for these meetings, please prioritize your questions in 
> order of importance. We would appreciate receiving your questions no 
> later than *Wednesday 30 October 2024.*
> 
> Looking forward to our discussions during Prep Week and ICANN81!
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Tripti Sinha
> 
> Chair, ICANN Board of Directors