Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Reserve Fund Release – USG IANA Stewardship Transition Costs

Important note: The explanatory text provided through this database (including the summary, implementation actions, identification of related resolutions, and additional information) is an interpretation or an explanation that has no official authority and does not represent the purpose behind the Board actions, nor does any explanations or interpretations modify or override the Resolutions themselves. Resolutions can only be modified through further act of the ICANN Board.

Reserve Fund Release – USG IANA Stewardship Transition Costs


Resolution of the ICANN Board
Topic: 
Board Finance Committee has recommended that the Board approve the release of funds from the Reserve Fund
Summary: 

Board approve the release of funds from the Reserve Fund to cover costs incurred in FY15 related to the USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative in an amount not to exceed US$7 million

Category: 
Administration and Budget
Board
General
Meeting Date: 
Sun, 26 Apr 2015
Resolution Number: 
2014.04.26.17
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, the Board approved the FY15 Operating Plan and Budget, which includes an amount of US$7 million for costs to be incurred related to the USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative, which was expected to be funded by the Reserve Fund.

Whereas, ICANN is incurring ongoing costs to support the work of the ICANN Community in relation to the USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative.

Whereas, the Board Finance Committee has recommended that the Board approve the release of funds from the Reserve Fund to cover costs incurred in FY15 related to the USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative in an amount not to exceed US$7 million, and the Board agrees.

Resolved (2014.04.26.17), the Board authorizes the President and CEO, or his designee(s), to withdraw funds from the Reserve Fund to cover costs incurred in FY15 related to the USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative in an amount not to exceed US$7 million.

Rationale for Resolution: 

The USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative is a major initiative to which the ICANN Community as a whole is dedicating a significant amount of time and resources. ICANN's supporting the Community in its work towards a successful completion of the project (including both the USG IANA Stewardship transition proposal development and accountability work) is critical for ICANN.

Considering its exceptional nature and the significant amount of costs anticipated to be incurred, the funding of this project could not be provided through the ICANN annual operating revenue. Accordingly, when the Board approved the FY15 Operating Plan and Budget, it included the anticipated funding of the project costs (US$7 million) through a corresponding withdrawal from the Reserve Fund.

The withdrawals from the Reserve Fund for the FY15 costs associated with the USG Transition Initiative will be done twice, once for the actual costs incurred from 1 July 2014 – 31 December 2014, and once for the actual costs incurred from 1 January 2015 – 30 June 2015. The first withdrawal will be for US$1,454,287, representing US$471,438 in personnel costs, US$548,247 in travel and meeting costs, US$352,164 in professional services, and US$82,439 in administrative costs.

As costs are incurred during FY15 for this project, ICANN is proceeding with the planned withdrawals of funds from the Reserve Fund to cover the actual costs incurred in FY15 related to USG IANA Stewardship Transition initiative, up to the amount of US$7 million included in the Board approved FY15 Operating Plan and Budget.

This is an Organizational Administrative Function that does not require public comment at this stage. In particular, the anticipated costs of US$7 million was included in the FY15 Operating Plan and Budget that was subject to public comment before it was approved by the Board.