STAFF DRAFT: DNSO AMENDMENTS TO ICANN BYLAWS
March 15, 1999 

The following is a staff draft of proposed changes to the ICANN Bylaws designed to establish the framework for the creation of the three Supporting Organizations called for in the Bylaws as originally adopted.  The approach set forth in this draft assumes that the Supporting Organizations will be policy advisory bodies within ICANN, with the additional characteristics that (1) they each select three Directors of ICANN and (2) there is a presumption (rebuttable if they fail to meet the criteria set forth in the Bylaws) that their recommendations will be approved by the Board.  If the approach reflected in this draft is finally adopted, the actions of those participating would presumably be subject to the insurance and other protections afforded ICANN officers, directors and employees so long as they were within the legitimate scope of the Supporting Organization's activities.

This is a staff draft, but it rests on the Board decisions taken in Singapore and the detailed discussion of many of the concepts adopted and reflected in the DNSO Formation Concepts statement adopted by the ICANN Board of Directors on March 4, 1999.  Comments on the draft are welcome, at comment-so@icann.org (View comments received).  The ICANN Board of Directors plans to vote on this proposal in a special telephone meeting on March 31, 1999.

In order to assist in understanding the Bylaws, the following FAQ's are provided.

1.  Were any substantive changes made in the general powers and responsibilities of the Supporting Organizations as set forth in the original Bylaws?

2.  How are the initial constituencies to be formed? 3.  How will the nomination and election processes be conducted, both for the representatives of each constituency to the Names Council and for the ICANN Directors to be selected by the DNSO? 4.  How exactly will the General Assembly function? 5.  Is  there  a deadline for constituency formation? 6.  How do the geographic diversity requirements of the ICANN bylaws apply to the Supporting Organizations? 7.  Do all of the procedural provisions (notice and comment, reconsideration, independent review, etc.) of the ICANN Bylaws automatically apply to the DNSO? 8.  Are members of the DNSO Names Council eligible for selection by the DNSO as ICANN Directors? 9.  How will the DNSO be funded? 10.  How will members of the General Assembly or constituencies that do not agree with the decisions of the Names Council make their voice heard?

 [The following should be substituted for the entirety of current Article VI of the current ICANN Bylaws]

NEW ARTICLE VI:  SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

Section 1:  DESCRIPTION

Section 2:  RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS Section 3:  SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION FORMATION  

NEW ARTICLE VI-A:  THE ADDRESS SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

[RESERVED]
 
 

NEW ARTICLE VI-B:  THE DOMAIN NAME SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

 Section 1:  DESCRIPTION

Section 2:  THE NAMES COUNCIL Section 3:  THE CONSTITUENCIES Section 4:  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY  

NEW ARTICLE VI-C:  THE PROTOCOL SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

[RESERVED]