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>>VINT CERF: BOARD MEMBERS, ARE YOU ABOUT READY TO BEGIN?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.
I'M ALSO VERY IMPRESSED THAT THERE'S ANYONE SITTING OUT THERE ON THE FLOOR AT THIS HOUR.
BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS THE FINAL BOARD MEETING OF THIS SESSION HERE IN LUXEMBOURG.
AND I WANT TO START OUT BY WELCOMING THOMAS NARTEN, WHO IS REPLACING JOHN KLENSIN AS OUR IETF LIAISON.
SO THOMAS IS DOWN THERE AT THE FAR END NEXT TO JOICHI ITO AND VANDA SCARTEZINI.
THOMAS, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE HERE AS LIAISON, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, AS WE HAVE WITH JOHN KLENSIN IN THE PAST.
THE SECOND THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT IN THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK, IT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND MOST OF YOU OUT THERE, HAVE BEEN BOTH DISAPPOINTED AND SURPRISED AND YOUR EXPECTATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN MET WITH REGARD TO THE KINDS OF INFORMATION THAT YOU EXPECTED FROM THE BOARD AND FROM THE REST OF ICANN.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT PRETTY LOUDLY AND CLEARLY.
AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A DISAPPOINTMENT FOR US AS WELL.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS WITH REGARD TO COMMUNICATIONS, WITH REGARD TO KEEPING YOU ADEQUATELY INFORMED.
AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
THERE ARE STEPS THAT I THINK WE CAN TAKE IN THE NEAR TERM AND STEPS THAT I HOPE WE CAN TAKE IN THE LONGER TERM TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO WORK WITH YOU, OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND FOR THE BOARD TO WORK BOTH TOGETHER AS A BOARD AND ALSO TOGETHER WITH OUR STAFF.
SO I'M COMMITTING TO YOU THAT WE WILL MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
ONE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS I CAN CITE IMMEDIATELY.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DID NOT HEAR EARLIER IN THE WEEK, VERISIGN HAS COME FORWARD AND OFFERED TO SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS SOME OF THE TERMS IN THE DOT NET CONTRACT, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO PRICE CAPS AND THE ELEMENTS OF THE RRA, THE REGISTRY/REGISTRAR AGREEMENT.
WE'RE PREPARED TO EXTEND THE COMMENT PERIOD ON THE REGISTRY/REGISTRAR AGREEMENT AN EXTRA 30 DAYS IF THAT'S NEEDED, SO THAT COMMENTS COMING FROM THE CONSTITUENCIES CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THESE DISCUSSIONS.
SO THESE ARE SOME EARLY STEPS THAT WE BELIEVE WE CAN TAKE TO IMPROVE THINGS.
PETER, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE -- NOT ONLY THE APPEARANCE, BUT THE FACT OF POOR-QUALITY COMMUNICATION.
SO I'D OFFER YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO AUGMENT THOSE REMARKS.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
YES, I WANT TO -- I THINK MOST OF THE BOARD, PROBABLY ALL THE BOARD WILL ASSOCIATE GENERALLY WITH THOSE REMARKS.
I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY ASSOCIATE MYSELF WITH, PUTTING IT POSITIVELY, THE UNDERTAKING TO DO BETTER ON THAT IN THE FUTURE IN TERMS OF MEETING EXPECTATIONS, AND ALSO TO SHARE PARTICULARLY, I GUESS, IN THE APOLOGY TO THE REGISTRARS CONSTITUENCY FOR NOT MEETING THEIR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT COMMUNICATING DEVELOPMENTS.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, PETER.
LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND THAT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
AND I'LL CALL UPON JOICHI ITO TO INTRODUCE THE RESOLUTION.
>>JOICHI ITO: YES.
I MOVE TO PUT ON THE TABLE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 28TH MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU.
IS THERE A SECOND?
VENI, I WILL CALL ON VENI AS THE -- YES, RAIMUNDO.
YOU DIDN'T GIVE ME A CHANCE TO ASK IF THERE WAS ANY AMENDMENT.
BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN WE WORDED THIS RESOLUTION, WELL, THE RESOLUTION ON DOT MOBI -- ON .TEL, THE RESOLUTION DIDN'T REFLECT A CONSIDERATION I MADE IN THE MEETING AND THAT HAD THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD.
THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING BY THE BOARD.
TO THE EXTENT THAT THE -- TO .TEL SHOULD BE ADDED THE SAME CONDITION THAT WAS ADDED -- THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE NEGOTIATION OF THE CONTRACT OF DOT MOBI.
IN THE NEGOTIATION OF DOT MOBI, THERE WERE INCLUDED CONDITIONS REGARDING THAT THE CONSORTIA SHOULD INCLUDE THE MEMBERS OF THE PROVIDING -- OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDERS COMMUNITY, AND THAT THE -- SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE USAGE OF THE E-164 TELEPHONE NUMBERS.
THOSE CONDITIONS WERE INCLUDED FOR DOT MOBI.
AND, NATURALLY, THEY SHOULD BE INCLUDED ALSO FOR .TEL.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IF IT IS NOT IN THE RESOLUTION, AT LEAST IT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE MINUTES.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAIMUNDO.
FOR CLARIFICATION, JOHN JEFFREY AND I DID GO BACK AND LOOK TO SEE -- TO RECONSTRUCT THAT PART OF OUR DISCUSSION.
IT IS CORRECT THAT RAIMUNDO RAISED THAT AS A POINT OF ATTENTION THAT THE CONSTRAINTS ON .TEL MATCH THE CONSTRAINTS ON DOT MOBI WITH REGARD TO REGISTRY OF E-164 IN THE DOT MOBI DOMAIN NAME SPACE.
HOWEVER, WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GO THROUGH A FORMAL AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION.
SO THE RESOLUTION WAS VOTED WITHOUT THAT MODIFICATION.
WHAT I SUGGEST IS THAT THE MINUTES BE AMENDED TO REFLECT THAT RAIMUNDO DID BRING THIS POINT UP AND THAT THE MINUTES OF TODAY'S BOARD MEETING DRAW ATTENTION TO THE STAFF TO THAT CONSIDERATION.
AND BY THAT MEANS WE'LL COMMUNICATE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO ACCOUNT IN THE FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH .TEL.
MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
FOLLOWING UP ON RAIMUNDO, AND BASED UPON SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY HERE THIS WEEK, UNDER ARTICLE III, SECTION 6, SUBPARAGRAPH 3, A DIRECTOR IS ABLE TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT TO THE MINUTES IF HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS AN ACTION CONSIDERED POLICY.
I DO BELIEVE THAT IN THE ADOPTION -- OR THE RESOLUTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH .TEL, THAT THERE WAS SOME POLICY INDICATION -- IMPLICATIONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO BE APPENDED INTO THE MINUTES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BYLAWS.
AGAIN, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD THIS WEEK ABOUT HAVING THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE BASIS FOR WHICH OUR DECISION IS BASED.
>>VINT CERF: MIKE, COULD I SUGGEST SOMETHING TO YOU?

>>MICHAEL PALAGE: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: IT TURNS OUT THAT SINCE YOU'RE NOW PREPARED TO STATE WHAT THAT CONTENT IS, YOU PROBABLY DON'T NEED TO RELY ON THE BYLAWS REQUIREMENT WITH REGARD TO POLICY AT ALL, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PREPARED TO MAKE THE STATEMENT NOW, IT SIMPLY GOES IN AS AMENDED MINUTES.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: SO YOU SHOULD PROCEED.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WAS ONE OF SEVERAL DIRECTORS THAT VOTED "NO" IN CONNECTION WITH THE .TEL APPLICATION.
AND THERE WERE PRIMARILY TWO REASONS ON WHICH I DID SO.
THE FIRST WAS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DOT MOBI CONTRACT WHICH WE HAD APPROVED EARLIER IN THAT MEETING.
AND, SPECIFICALLY, IN THE DOT MOBI CONTRACT, THERE WAS A PROVISION IN APPENDIX S, PART 7, WHICH STATES THE FOLLOWING WITH REGARD TO TLD DIFFERENTIATION:
"ICANN AND THE REGISTRY OPERATOR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A CRITERION INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN WHICH THE DOT MOBI TLD WAS SELECTED AND IN THE PREVIOUS TLD APPLICATION EXPANSION ROUND WAS THAT A NEW TLD BE CLEARLY DIFFERENTIATED FROM EXISTING TLDS.
ICANN, WHEN UNDERTAKING TO EFFECT THE DELEGATION OF NEW TLDS, SHALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION INTERNET COMMUNITY INPUT RECEIVED, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTIONS INTERESTED THIRD PARTIES MAY HAVE UNDER POLICY CONSIDERATIONS OR APPLICABLE LAW OR OTHERWISE REGARDING THE CREATION OF NEW TLDS."
AS I EXPLAINED TO THE BOARD DURING OUR TELECONFERENCE, I WAS UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN THE DOT MOBI AND THE .TEL TLD.
I ALSO BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD THE POTENTIAL CONFUSION WHICH ONE BOARD MEMBER HAD IN CONNECTION WITH A PRESENTATION THAT -- A FLASH MARKETING PRESENTATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE .TEL APPLICATION IN WHICH THE BOARD MEMBER THOUGHT IT WAS ACTUALLY DOT MOBI.
SO BASED UPON THIS CONFUSION, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS A BASIS FOR US TO SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT UNDER THIS PROVISION BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE .TEL.
ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS WHICH I VOTED "NO" WAS BASED UPON THE DISCUSSION FROM THE -- RICHARD THWAITES FROM THE ITU, WHO PROVIDED SOME DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SCALABILITY OF THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
SO THESE ARE ALL OF THE REASONS -- AND I GUESS THE ONE OTHER REASON I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT IT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD THAT THIS WOULD BE TEXTUAL-BASE ONLY.
SO THIS FOLLOWS UP ON RAIMUNDO'S CONCERNS REGARDING POTENTIAL ENUM IMPLICATIONS, AND ALSO THE DISTINCTION THAT MOBI WAS GEARED TOWARDS, I BELIEVE, COMPANIES THAT WERE GOING TO BE PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS -- TO THE MOBILE PHONE USERS AND .TEL WAS GEARED MORE TOWARDS THE INDIVIDUAL USERS.
I DID NOT FIND THAT AN ACCEPTABLE DELINEATION UNDER THE GUIDELINES WHICH WE'VE -- WHICH WERE STATED HERE.
SO THAT IS IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
I DON'T PROPOSE THAT WE REOPEN THAT DEBATE AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS ONLY A QUESTION OF MAKING SURE THAT THE MINUTES REFLECT ACCURATELY BOARD MEMBERS' RECOLLECTIONS OF THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO THE MINUTES OF JUNE 28TH?
IF NOT, I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE, THEN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THE MINUTES AS AMENDED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14.
15.
THANK YOU.
ARE THERE ANY VOTING "NO"?
ARE THERE ANY ABSTAINING?
WHICH SURELY DOESN'T MAKE TOO MUCH SENSE.
VERY GOOD.
MR. SECRETARY, THE MINUTES OF JUNE 28TH ARE APPROVED AS AMENDED.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY IN WHICH THE BOARD WILL WORK WITH REGARD TO PROPOSALS FOR GLOBAL INTERNET NUMBER RESOURCE POLICIES.
AND BECAUSE RAIMUNDO HAS WORKED SO CLOSELY ON THE TEXT OF THAT PROCEDURE, I'D LIKE HIM TO INTRODUCE THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION.
RAIMUNDO.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S CERTAINLY A PLEASURE FOR ME TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION, WHICH IN FACT MEANS THAT ALL THE ASO MOUS IS ENTIRELY IN APPLICATION TODAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE MATCHED THE LAST LINK WHICH WAS MISSING.
THIS RESOLUTION REGARDS THE PROCEDURES THAT THE BOARD WILL FOLLOW WHEN REVIEWING FOR RATIFICATION THE ADDRESS POLICIES THAT COME FROM THE ADDRESSING COMMUNITY.
IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT THE ADDRESSING POLICIES, THE GLOBAL ADDRESSING POLICIES BEFORE COMING TO THE BOARD FORWARDED BY THE ADDRESS COUNCIL HAVE FOLLOWED A PROCEDURE, VERY LONG PROCEDURE, OF DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL BY CONSENSUS AND BOTTOM-UP PROCEDURE THROUGH THE FOUR REGIONAL REGISTRIES.
AND THIS PROCESS, IT TAKES ABOUT ONE YEAR AND A HALF BEFORE ARRIVING TO THE BOARD, AND HAS A LONG DISCUSSION, AND IT HAS TO BE RATIFIED AND BY CONSENSUS BY EVERY SINGLE REGION.
THE RESOLUTION READS LIKE THIS.
WHEREAS, ARTICLE VIII OF THE ICANN BYLAWS STATED THAT THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL SHALL ADVISE THE BOARD WITH RESPECT TO POLICY ISSUES RELATING TO THE OPERATION, ASSIGNMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF INTERNET ADDRESSES, AND THAT THE ASO SHALL BE THE ENTITY ESTABLISHED BY THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ENTERED ON 21 OCTOBER 2004 BETWEEN ICANN AND THE NUMBER RESOURCE ORGANIZATION, NRO, AN ORGANIZATIONS OF THE EXISTING REGIONAL INTERNET REGISTRIES, RIRS.
WHEREAS THE ASO MOU ARTICLE 5 GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS STATED THAT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE ICANN BOARD WILL RATIFY PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, USING REVIEW PROCEDURES AS DETERMINED BY ICANN.
WHEREAS, A PROPOSED SUCH REVIEW PROCEDURE WAS POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE ICANN WEB SITE ON 6 APRIL 2005, RECEIVING COMMENTS WHICH PROMPTED REDRAFTING AND POSTING OF A SECOND DRAFT ON THE ICANN WEB SITE ON 31 MAY 2005, WITH DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS ON 27 JUNE 2005.
WHEREAS THE SECOND DRAFT DID RECEIVE NEW COMMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE PROPOSED VERSION OF THE PROCEDURE.
RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD HEREBY ADOPTS THE PROCEDURE FOR REVIEW OF GLOBAL ADDRESSING POLICIES AND INSTRUCTS STAFF TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROCEDURE AND TO INFORM THE ASO THEREOF.
I WILL READ, IF NEEDED, THE PROCEDURE, WHICH IS QUITE LONG.
BUT BEFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT TWO IMPORTANT CONCEPTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROCEDURE.
THE FIRST ONE IS THAT THE BOARD WILL CREATE AN EARLY AWARENESS OF THE EXISTING OF A GLOBAL POLICY IN THE PIPELINE WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE STAFF AND TO THE BOARD AS SOON AS THE LIAISONS OR WHATEVER WHICH IS LOOKING TO THE -- TO WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE GLOBAL POLICIES BECOME AWARE THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, THAT THE POLICY IS IN THE PIPELINE.
BUT, AS A MATTER OF FACT, NOW WE HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION THAT THIS IS THE CASE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF IPV6, WHICH AS SOON AS THIS PROCEDURE WILL BE ADOPTED, EARLY NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN THAT.
AND THE SECOND CONCEPT IS THAT THE BOARD IS NOT FORCED BY THE ASO MOU TO ASK THE ADDRESS COUNCIL AN ADVICE ON THE CONTENT OF THE POLICY.
AND WHAT THESE PROCEDURES ARE GOING TO STATE -- AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT POINT -- IS THAT THE BOARD DECIDES THAT AS SOON AS THE POLICY IS FORWARDED AND RECEIVED BY THE BOARD, THE BOARD WILL ASK THE ADVICE TO THE ADDRESS COUNCIL.
SO AS THIS IS STATED NOW AS A PROCEDURE, THE ADDRESS COUNCIL WILL KNOW ONE YEAR BEFORE THAT AT THE MOMENT THAT THE ADDRESS COUNCIL FORWARDS THE POLICY, THEY WILL BE ASKED FOR A FORMAL ADVICE ON IT.
SO THE ADDRESS COUNCIL WILL HAVE ALL THE TIME TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO PROVIDE THIS ADVICE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I HAVE FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE COMING TO THE MEMBER A MEMBER OF THE ADDRESS COUNCIL.
I KNOW HOW THE ADDRESS COUNCIL WORKS. AND IT'S -- IT WAS VERY NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WORKS THAT THERE IS KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN.
SO ONE YEAR BEFORE IT HAPPENS, THE ADDRESS COUNCIL KNOWS THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN ONE DAY.
THE PROCEDURES READ LIKE THIS: BOARD'S REVIEW PROCEDURE FOR GLOBAL INTERNET NUMBER RESOURCE POLICY FOR RATIFICATION BY THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ASO MOU 11TH JULY 2005.
NUMBER 1, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STEP ONE IN THE GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF THE ASO MOU, ATTACHMENT A, ARTICLE I, ICANN STAFF LIAISON WITH THE ADDRESSING COMMUNITY BECOME AWARE OF A GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ASO MOU, ICANN STAFF INFORMS THE ICANN BOARD OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
THE BOARD DECIDES WHEN APPROPRIATE THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY ICANN STAFF AND CONSTRUCT THE ICANN CEO TO ASSIGN STAFF FOR THIS PURPOSE.
ICANN STAFF SO ASSIGNED SHALL INFORM ALL ICANN SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS AND ORGANIZE COMMITTEES, SHALL ESTABLISH AN ICANN WEB PAGE TO BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE AND SHALL COMPILE A BACKGROUND REPORT TO BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON THIS GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
THE BACKGROUND REPORT SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD AS REQUESTED.
NUMBER 2, WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY FROM THE RECEIPT OF PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY FORWARDED BY THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL TO THE ICANN BOARD, THE ICANN BOARD SECRETARY SHALL ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THIS TO THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL AND SUBMIT THE PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY TO THE BOARD TOGETHER WITH AN UPDATED BACKGROUND REPORT.
THIS IS THE START OF THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE TO THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL AS SPECIFIED IN THE ASO MOU, ATTACHMENT A.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A, ARTICLE VIII OF THE ASO MOU, THE ICANN BOARD WILL PROCEED AS FOLLOWS PRIOR TO ANY DELIBERATION, WITHIN ONE DAY AFTER THE RECEIPT OF A PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY.
A, THE BOARD SECRETARY SENDS A REQUEST OF THE ASO AC FOR ADVICE OF THIS PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY TO BE DELIVERED AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE EXPIRY OF THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE.
B, THE BOARD SECRETARY MAKES A FINAL CALL FOR COMMENTS TO ALL ICANN SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO BE DELIVERED WITHIN 21 DAYS.
AND, C, THE BOARD SECRETARY POSTS THE FINAL CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TO BE DELIVERED WITHIN 21 DAYS.
IN ADDITION, IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE BOARD, ADVICE FROM AN INDEPENDENT BODY MAY BE REQUESTED TO BE DELIVERED NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE EXPIRY OF THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE.
NUMBER 4, ICANN STAFF ANALYZES ALL COMMENTS AND ADVICE RECEIVED DURING THIS PROCEDURE AND COMPILES NO LATER THAN 20 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE A FINALLY REPORT WITH THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION WHICH IS SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE FINAL REPORT SHALL CONTAIN AN EXPOSITION OF THE ARGUMENTS MADE FOR ANY SUGGESTED AMENDMENT TO BE PROPOSED -- TO THE PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY FORWARDED FOR RATIFICATION.
NUMBER 5, NO LATER THAN ONE DAY BEFORE THE EXPIRY OF THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE, THE ICANN BOARD DECIDES ON THE PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY FORWARDED BY VOTING IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER: A, TO TAKE AN ACTION -- TO TAKE NO ACTION BY SIMPLE MAJORITY; B, TO REJECT THE PROPOSED POLICY BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF TWO-THIRDS; C, TO ACCEPT THE PROPOSED POLICY BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE; AND, D, TO REQUEST CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED POLICY BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE.
AS A PART OF THE DECISION, THE BOARD SHALL, AS APPROPRIATE, GIVE AUTHORIZATION OR DIRECTION TO THE ICANN STAFF TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE GLOBAL POLICY.
THE BOARD SHALL INFORM THE ASO ADDRESS COUNCIL OF THE DECISION.
AND NUMBER 6, SHOULD THE BOARD REQUEST CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY FORWARDED OR REJECTED, THERE ARE 11 MOU PROVISIONS IN 25679 A, ARTICLES X TO XV APPLY.
SHOULD THE BOARD FAIL TO TAKE ACTION AS DEFINED BY THE MOU, PROVISION A, ARTICLE X WITHIN THE WINDOW FOR BOARD RESPONSE, THE PROPOSED GLOBAL POLICY IS DEEMED TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE BOARD AND BECOMES THE GLOBAL POLICY.
NUMBER 7, THROUGHOUT THE BOARD'S REVIEW PROCEDURES FROM THE MOMENT OF THE BOARD CHARGES THE STAFF TO FOLLOW UP GLOBAL -- A GLOBAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ICANN WILL MAINTAIN A WEB PAGE DETAILING THE PROGRESS.
THIS WEB PAGE SHALL DESCRIBE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL FOR A POLICY, ALL DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS SUBMITTED IN THE PROCESS, ALL REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS PRODUCED ON THE MATTER, AND THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW.
THROUGHOUT THE BOARD'S REVIEW, PROCEDURES, ASSISTANCE IN LINE WITH THE ASO MOU, ARTICLE IV, IS APPLICABLE AS APPROPRIATE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE MOTION?
MIKE PALAGE SECONDS THE MOTION.
ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION ITEMS, ANY AMENDMENTS AT ALL?
LET ME -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RAIMUNDO, FOR RUNNING THROUGH THAT IN SUCH COMPLETE DETAIL.
THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EARLIER RECEIVED WRITTEN COPIES OF THIS MATERIAL.
IT'S BEEN POSTED ON THE WEB SITE.
SO IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, YOU WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED.
SO IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING THIS SET OF PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING GLOBAL INTERNET NUMBER POLICIES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
THANK YOU.
ARE THERE -- WELL, THAT'S ALL OF US.
SO THERE CAN'T BE ANY "NOES" OR ABSTENTIONS.
MR. SECRETARY, THE BOARD HAS ADOPTED THE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A SET OF REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR GLOBAL INTERNET RESOURCE POLICIES.
BEFORE WE GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, LET ME JUST SIMPLY, AS A MATTER OF INFORMATION, DRAW ATTENTION TO A PROVISION IN THE ASO MOU ITSELF. IN THAT MOU, THE PACE OF RESPONSIVENESS FOR ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ICANN AND -- AND THE ASO, OR THE BOARD AND ASO, CALL FOR A 60-DAY RESPONSE TIME.
THE GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORKS ESSENTIALLY AT THE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS. AND SINCE THOSE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS OCCUR ONLY THREE TIMES A YEAR, THE CHAIRMAN, SHARIL TARMIZI, HAS SUGGESTED THAT IN ORDER TO ASSURE THAT ANY GAC REACTIONS TO THESE MATTERS COULD BE COMPLETED OVER AS MANY AS TWO DIFFERENT ICANN MEETINGS, THAT I HAVE ALERTED THE ASO AND THE NRO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS EXTENDING THAT RESPONSE TIME TO 120 DAYS.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THAT CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW, SO JUST TO ALERT THE BOARD THERE WILL BE -- ASSUMING IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO OUR COLLEAGUES, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ACTION TO AMEND THE ASO MOU TO PERMIT THAT 120-DAY RESPONSE TIME.
RAIMUNDO.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU, VINT. I WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THE FACT THAT THESE PROCEDURES WHICH WE HAVE JUST ADOPTED ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ANY CHANGE ON THE WINDOW, BECAUSE IT STATES THE WINDOW INDICATED IN THE ATTACHMENT A.
SO IF THE ATTACHMENT A CHANGES, THE REPRESENTED WILL NOT CHANGE.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THERE IS SOME EDITING GOING ON WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET, AND SO WE ARE GOING TO DELAY THAT ITEM UNTIL THE EDITING IS COMPLETE AND MOVE ON TO THE FOURTH ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS INITIATION OF A REVIEW OF THE GNSO.
AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE, OUR BYLAWS REQUIRE US TO REVIEW AND ASSESS THE OPERATION OF ALL OF OUR ORGANIZATION, THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, COMMITTEES, THE BOARD AND SO ON.
AT LEAST ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.
THE GNSO IS SORT OF UP FOR REVIEW. COUNCIL HAS BEEN REVIEWED BUT NOT THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON MIKE PALAGE TO INTRODUCE A MOTION TO DEAL WITH THAT REVIEW ITEM.
MICHAEL.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. WHEREAS, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 4 OF THE ICANN BYLAWS PROVIDE THAT THE ICANN BOARD WILL REGULARLY INITIATE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF EACH SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION COUNCIL. WHEREAS, A REVIEW OF THE GENERIC NAMES SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED IN 2006, IT IS PROPOSED TO BE RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD HEREBY REQUESTS THAT THE GNSO COUNCIL PREPARE WITH THE ICANN STAFF AND BOARD A "TERMS OF REFERENCE" DOCUMENT TO GUIDE THE INDEPENDENT -- TO GUIDE AN INDEPENDENT ENTITY, AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT IN CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF THE GNSO AND PRESENT THE TERMS OF THE REFERENCE TO THE BOARD FOR ADOPTION AT THE MEETING IN DECEMBER 2005 IN VANCOUVER, CANADA.
>>VINT CERF: IS THERE A SECOND FOR THIS MOTION?
I SEE MOUHAMET, AND SEVERAL OTHERS, BUT I'LL PICK ON MOUHAMET.
LET ME -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHAEL.
LET ME ALSO SAY, FOR THE RECORD, THAT THE BOARD HAS CONSULTED WITH THE CHAIR OF THE GNSO AND CONFIRMED THAT, IN FACT, THIS REQUEST WILL BE WELL RECEIVED. THE CHAIR BELIEVED THAT IT WAS TIMELY FOR SUCH A REVIEW SO THIS SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO THE GNSO. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS MOTION? PETER.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: I AM IN FAVOR OF IT, AND I WILL VOTER IN FAVOR. JUST A POINT OF REFERENCE. THE BYLAWS ACTUALLY PROVIDE FOR THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW NOT ONLY OF THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS BUT ALSO OF ALL OTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND WE DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A PROGRAM FOR DEALING WITH THE OTHER. SO WHILE THIS IS IN FRONT OF US, WE COULD PERHAPS MAKE NOTE THAT WE COULD LOOK AT THE OTHERS.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU. I DID MAKE REFERENCE TO THAT BUT YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CURRENTLY ON THE RADAR SCREEN. SO THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? RICHARD.
>>RICHARD THWAITES: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, WE WELCOME THE POSITIVE INDICATIONS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GNSO THAT A REVIEW WOULD BE WELCOME AND IS TIMELY. I ALSO PARTICULARLY NOTED THAT HE MADE REFERENCE IN CONSIDERING THE COMPLEXITY OF THE GNSO THAT IT DOES INCLUDE USER REPRESENTATION, OR, RATHER, IT IS THE ONLY PLACE IN ICANN WHERE A USER CONSTITUENCY, IN THE SENSE OF THOSE WHO NEED AND USE DNS AT THE APPLICATION LEVEL IN THEIR BUSINESSES. WE CONSIDER THIS FROM THE TLD PERSPECTIVE TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT DIMENSION OF ICANN THAT CAN DO WITH STRENGTHENING AND WE WILL BE HOPING THAT THE TERMS OF REFERENCE GIVE SUFFICIENT ACCOUNT TO THAT DIMENSION SO THAT ICANN IS NOT PURELY A SUPPLY SIDE GROUP BUT IS FULLY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE USER SIDE OF THE MARKET.
THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, RICHARD.
THAT PROMPTS ME TO ALSO OBSERVE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE ICANN ORGANIZATION. IT'S CALLED THE AT-LARGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS, WE HOPE, PRESENTLY SPAWNING REGIONAL AT-LARGE ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO BRING OTHER USER INPUT INTO THE ICANN PROCESS. SO WE MAY HAVE TWO AVENUES BY WHICH TO ACHIEVE THAT, AND I WELCOME THAT, AS I'M SURE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS DO.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF INITIATING THIS PROCESS TO BEGIN REVIEW OF THE GNSO, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN. THAT WAS 15-0-0.
AND MR. SECRETARY, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD ADVISE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GNSO THAT HIS REVIEW PROCESS HAS NOW BEEN INITIATED.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, ASSUMING THAT -- AM I CORRECT THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THE BUDGET? YOU'RE NOT READY THEN.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: NO.
>>VINT CERF: OKAY. THANK YOU.
IN THAT CASE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO THE DESIGNATION OF THE VANCOUVER MEETING AS OUR ANNUAL MEETING.
JUST A REMINDER. EVERY YEAR WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A MEETING WHICH IS SPECIALLY IDENTIFIED AS THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE REASON THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE IS THAT AT THOSE MEETINGS, WE RECONFIRM OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION, WE ELECT BOARD OFFICERS, WE POPULATE COMMITTEES AND SO ON.
SO WE HAVE TO DO THAT IN THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WE HAVE TO DESIGNATE VANCOUVER IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT PROPERLY CITED.
SO I HAVE ASKED VENI MARKOVSKI IF HE WOULD INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION. VENI.
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: SURE. AND BEFORE I INTRODUCE IT, I WOULD LIKE AGAIN TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE VANCOUVER MEETING AND TO MAKE SURE THAT --
(APPLAUSE.)
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: ARE YOU -- ARE YOU LIVING SOMEWHERE NEARBY?
(LAUGHTER.)
>>VINT CERF: OH, YES. OUR CANADIAN OMBUDSMAN IS HAPPY TO HAVE THE ENTIRE CROWD DESCEND UPON HIM.
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: IF YOU DON'T MIND, LATER ON I WILL ASK HIM FOR THE ADDRESS AND WE WILL INCLUDE IT IN THE RESOLUTION.
WHEREAS, ICANN BYLAWS ARTICLE VI, SECTION 13, REQUIRES THAT EACH ANNUAL MEETING FOR ICANN BE HELD AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF ICANN, OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE PLACE OF THE ICANN BOARD'S TIME AND CHOOSING, PROVIDED SUCH ANNUAL MEETING IS HELD WITHIN 14 MONTHS OF THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ANNUAL MEETING. WHEREAS, THE ICANN BOARD WILL BE MEETING IN VANCOUVER, CANADA ON 4 DECEMBER 2005.
WHEREAS, THE ICANN BOARD DESIRES TO DESIGNATE ITS MEETING ON 4 DECEMBER 2005 AS THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING FOR ICANN.
RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD HEREBY DESIGNATES THE 4 DECEMBER 2005 MEETING IN VANCOUVER, CANADA AS THE 2005 ANNUAL MEETING FOR ICANN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, VENI. IS THERE A SECOND? I SEE DEMI SECONDING. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS RESOLUTION?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR NAMING THE VANCOUVER MEETING THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. THANK YOU. YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN NOW.
MR. SECRETARY, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VANCOUVER MEETING IS GOING TO BE THE ANNUAL MEETING FOR 2005.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UNTIL WE FINALLY GET THE BUDGET RESOLUTION SORTED OUT, IS THE -- SORRY, IS THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TOM NILES IF TOM WOULD INTRODUCE THIS RECOMMENDATION. I'M SORRY, THIS MOTION.
>>THOMAS NILES: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE, IN RESPONSE TO A PROPOSAL FROM THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE HANDLING OF OUR MEETINGS, TELEPHONIC BOARD MEETINGS, THE REPORTS OF THOSE BOARD MEETINGS, HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A PROVISION STATED IN THIS RESOLUTION THAT DIRECTS THE STAFF TO TAKE, AS IT SAYS IN THE RESOLUTION, "ALL REASONABLE STEPS" TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED TRANSPARENCY RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO TELEPHONIC BOARD MEETINGS. AND THOSE REASONABLE STEPS ARE TO REVIEW TRANSCRIPTIONS OF ALL VOTING AND BOARD MEMBER STATEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE VOTES CONSISTENT WITH PROCEDURES TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVILEGED INFORMATION. AND TO MAKE THOSE TRANSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE VOTING AND BE AWARE OF HOW MEMBERS CHARACTERIZE THEIR POSITIONS ON THE VOTE.
SO THIS IS THE RESOLUTION THAT THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE HAS PUT BEFORE THE BOARD, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THIS IS A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS INCREASED COMMUNICATION AND CLARITY OF BOARD ACTIONS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS THAT -- THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
LET ME ASK IF THERE'S A SECOND TO THIS. I SEE MANY PEOPLE. PETER, I'LL SELECT YOU AS THE OFFICIAL SECONDEE. BUT THE MINUTES SHOULD NOTE THAT A NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS WERE VERY POSITIVELY REACTING TO THIS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS RESOLUTION?
PETER.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT, BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY WORTH CONVEYING TO THE COMMUNITY THE DISCUSSION BEHIND THIS AND THAT THERE IS EVERY INTENTION ON THE BOARD TO MAKE ITS PROCESS AS TRANSPARENT AND INFORMATIVE ACCORDING TO THE BYLAWS. THAT MEETS ON WITH THE FACTUAL NECESSITY THAT THE BOARD SOMETIMES HAS TO GO INTO CONFIDENTIAL SESSIONS IN ORDER TO TAKE BRIEFINGS THE FINANCIAL OR OTHER SENSITIVE INFORMATION.
THIS SEEMS TO BE AN EXCELLENT COMPROMISE WHICH ALLOWS ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH CAN BE DONE IN PUBLIC TO BE DONE IN PUBLIC AS THE BOARD WANTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDING FOR A MECHANISM TO ALLOW THINGS WHICH MUST BE DONE CONFIDENTIALLY TO BE DONE THAT WAY. SO IT'S AN EXCELLENT STEP FORWARD.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, PETER. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION?
IN THAT CASE, I'LL REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, WE WILL BE, IN OUR TELEPHONIC MEETINGS, RECORDING THE VOTING AND OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EACH BOARD MEMBER TO EXPLAIN HIS OR HER VOTE, WHETHER IT'S YES, NO, OR ABSTAIN.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MEETINGS REASONABLY CRISP, I WILL ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS, SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT, TO DO SO IN A SUCCINCT MANNER. BUT APART FROM THAT, THAT AVAILABLE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUR CONSTITUENCIES. AND I REMIND STAFF ONCE AGAIN THAT MINUTES ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRODUCED IN A TIMELY WAY, NOT ONLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD BUT ALSO FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO FOLLOW CLOSELY WHAT THE BOARD'S ACTIONS ARE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: JUST A THANKS TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE INCREASED EFFICIENCY WITH THE PRODUCTION OF THE REPORTS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATION, WE WERE A LITTLE BEHIND SCHEDULE BUT WE HAVE SEEN MARKED IMPROVEMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE STEP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SECRETARY FOR THAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. MR. SECRETARY, SOMETHING IS WRONG. PETER HAS JUST -- WHAT IS IT THAT AMOEBAS DO? MITOSIS OR SOMETHING.
IT'S A UNANIMOUS DECISION.
(DOOR OPENING).
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: THE AIR CONDITIONING IS WORKING.
(LAUGHTER.)
>>VINT CERF: ACTUALLY, IT SOUNDED, WITH THESE HEADSETS ON, IT SOUNDED LIKE SOME BEAST HAD JUST BEEN WOUNDED AND WAS MOANING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS.
(LAUGHTER.)
>> THAT HAPPENED A WEEK AGO.
>>VINT CERF: YES.
OKAY. WELL, I HAVE BEFORE ME A BUDGET MOTION, AND SO I WILL NOW TURN TO HAGEN WHO CHAIRS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ASK HAGEN IF WOULD HE KINDLY INTRODUCE THIS MOTION TO THE BOARD.
>>HAGEN HULTZSCH: THANK YOU, VINT. AS IN ANY EFFICIENT AND GOOD DEMOCRACY-BASED ORGANIZATION, THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN VITAL. IT HAS SHOWN THE STRENGTH OF THE ORGANIZATION. AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF OPENNESS AND CONFRONTED DISCUSSION IS A PLATFORM TO ENSURE ICANN'S CONTINUED EVOLUTION INTO A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION THAT IS BOTH, AND MARILYN LISTEN, BOTH INTELLECTUALLY SOUND AND FINANCIALLY ADEQUATELY FUNDED.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO STRIVE FOR.
AND NOW I READ THE TEXT TO YOU. YOU HAVE IT ALSO ON THE SCREEN, BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP THAT WE GET THIS DONE.
WHEREAS, ICANN BYLAWS ARTICLE XVI, SECTION 4 PROVIDES THAT AT LEAST 45 DAYS PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF EACH FISCAL YEAR, THE PRESIDENT SHALL PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO THE BOARD A PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET OF ICANN FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH SHALL BE POSTED ON THE WEB SITE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET SHALL IDENTIFY ANTICIPATED REVENUE SOURCES AND LEVELS, AND SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICAL, IDENTIFY ANTICIPATED MATERIAL EXPENSE ITEMS BY LINE ITEM.
THE BOARD SHALL ADOPT AN ANNUAL BUDGET AND SHALL PUBLISH THE ADOPTED BUDGET ON THE WEB SITE.
WHEREAS, ON 17 MAY 2005, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ICANN BYLAWS, ICANN POSTED ITS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006.
WHEREAS, THE POSTED THE BUDGET -- THE POSTED PROPOSED BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A SERIES OF CONSULTATIONS WITH ICANN CONSTITUENCIES, THE BUDGET ADVISORY GROUP AND THE ICANN BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD HAS REVIEWED THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND HAS FOUND THAT ITS ADOPTION IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ICANN.
WHEREAS, THE COMMUNITY CONSULTATION PROCESS HAS ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE CATEGORIES OF EXPENDITURES THAT REMAIN UNDER DISCUSSION WITHIN THE ICANN COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF A NEW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO FACILITATE DNSSEC DEPLOYMENT, SPENDING FROM SEGREGATED FUNDS (WITH EXCEPTION OF FUNDING FOR THE TECHNICAL STANDING PANEL, AND INITIATIVES ON IDN AND REGISTRY FAILOVER); AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW REGIONAL OFFICES.
NOW THE RESOLUTIONS. A, THE ICANN BOARD ADOPTS THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF ICANN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006.
B, THE PRESIDENT AND STAFF ARE HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO CONTINUE COLLABORATION WITH THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES TO FINALIZE THE APPROPRIATE MECHANISMS AND MODEL FOR COLLECTING THE NEEDED REVENUE LEVELS.
C, THE ICANN BOARD WISHES TO CLARIFY THAT ANY EXPENDITURE ON COMPETITION INITIATIVES IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE GTLD ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT EXPENDITURE FOR SUPPORT FROM BOTTOM-UP ADDRESSING POLICY DEVELOPMENT IS LIMITED TO THE GLOBAL POLICY LEVELS.
AND D, THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE IS REQUESTED TO ITEMIZE THE EXPENDITURES IN THE EXPENSE CATEGORIES STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, INCLUDING THOSE IN RESOLUTION C ABOVE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT SUCH EXPENDITURES WILL CONTINUE ONLY AT THE RATE FROM FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005 WHILE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE.
THAT'S IT.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HAGEN. IS THERE A SECOND FOR THE BUDGET RESOLUTION? I SEE TOM NILES SECONDS.
THANK YOU, TOM, AND THANK YOU, HAGEN.
I'M GOING TO ASK FOR DISCUSSION ON THIS BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION, THAT THE BOARD AND STAFF ARE COMMITTED TO INCREASING CLARITY IN THE BUDGET STRUCTURE AND PRESENTATIONS, AND IN THE COURSE OF THIS WEEK'S DISCUSSIONS ON THE BUDGET, IT'S BEEN CLEAR THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE FORMATS BY WHICH WE PRESENT BUDGETS TO OUR CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THE OPERATING PLAN AND THE BUDGET CAN BE MADE MORE CLEAR AND MORE ACCURATE.
SO I AM PLEASED TO ANTICIPATE THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IMPROVING OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND COLLECTIVELY HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPEND AND ON WHAT.
LET ME OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
PETER AND THEN PROFESSOR QIAN.
PETER YIELDS THE FLOOR TO PROFESSOR QIAN.
>>HUALIN QIAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. ALTHOUGH I WILL VOTE IN FAVOR TO ADOPT THIS BUDGET, BUT I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS ON THAT.
FIRST ONE IS THE -- I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE BUDGET, BUT CONSERVATIVE EXPENDITURE, BECAUSE BEING CHINESE, WE ALWAYS WORK HARD AND SAVE MONEY FOR THE FUTURE USE, NO PEOPLE USING THE MONEY WILL COME IN TOMORROW.
I AM ALSO SERVING IN THE APNIC ASIA MEMBER, AND WE MADE THE IT THE BUDGET AT LEAST ONE YEAR, WITHOUT ANY INCOME, STILL CAN BE OPERATIONAL FOR ONE YEAR.
SO I THINK OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS, TO GET MORE MONEY SPENT A LITTLE BIT JUST LOWER THAN THAT, AND TO MAKE A RESERVE.
IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS, THEN WE CAN HAVE ONE YEAR'S OPERATION FEE SURPLUS -- RESERVED. THAT'S SAFE. WITHOUT THIS BUDGET SAFE, WITHOUT THE INCOME SAFE, HOW CAN WE DO OUR JOB, MAKE THE INTERNET STABLE AND SECURE?
SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THE SECOND THING IS I THINK WE SHOULD DO OUR THING, THINKING ABOUT SAVING MONEY. BECAUSE IN THIS RESOLUTION MENTIONED ABOUT THE REGIONAL OFFICE. I HAVE SOME IDEA ABOUT -- BECAUSE OPEN A REGIONAL OFFICE, WE'RE SPENDING MUCH MONEY.
SO NOW WE HAVE ONE IN BRUSSELS THAT'S SERVING EUROPE AND AFRICA. AND OUR HEADQUARTER IN NORTH AMERICA ALSO CAN SERVE SOUTH AMERICA.
BUT IN ASIA, THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES, CULTURES, AND A SINGLE, ONE OR TWO PERSON OFFICE DOESN'T HELP, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IF THE PEOPLE SPEAK ENGLISH AND A SECOND BRANCH OFFICE IN AUSTRALIA OR SOMETHING THEN NOT HELP. PEOPLE CAN TALK DIRECTLY THROUGH THE INTERNET TO OUR HEADQUARTERS. NO NEED TO TALK TO THE OFFICE, BECAUSE ALL IN ENGLISH. THE SAME DIFFICULTY WE ENCOUNTERED.
SO WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD DO, THE OTHER THING TO THE OUTREACH, MAKE LOCAL PRESENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, WE CAN HAVE OUR WEB IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, ICANN WEB SITE.
MANY PEOPLE NOW KNOW MORE ABOUT ICANN BECAUSE OF THE WSIS PROCESS, BECAUSE ARGUING, DEBATING.
BUT MANY PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S ICANN DOING. ESPECIALLY MANY DOCUMENTS IN ENGLISH, AND THOSE ARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS. FOR ME, IT'S A HEADACHE TO READ THOSE LEGAL DOCUMENTS, FOR OTHER PEOPLE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT, AND MOUHAMET SAID YESTERDAY.
SO IF WE CAN SET UP A FEW LANGUAGES, U.N, UNITED NATIONS USED SOME LANGUAGES, WE HAVE SET THE WEB SITE IN OUR LANGUAGES, THEN I THINK MUCH CHEAPER. WE CAN OUTSOURCING TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES TO DO THIS, SIGN AGREEMENT WITH THEM, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, HAVE AN INITIAL INVESTMENT ON THE MACHINE, AND THEN ASK LOCAL PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, CNNIC WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT IN CHINESE. THAT'S MUCH CHEAPER AND MUCH EFFECTIVE. THIS IS ONE THING FOR THE LOCAL PRESENCE.
THE OTHER THING IS I THINK THAT THAT'S ON THE MAP OF ICANN STRUCTURE. WE ONLY ARE RESTRICTED TO OUR MAP, A FEW ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS. BUT ACTUALLY, MANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE RELATED TO ICANN.
FOR EXAMPLE, APTLD, APNIC, ONE FOR IP ADDRESS, ONE FOR DOMAIN NAME.
AND ALSO, ADDRESS. FOR EXAMPLE, CCTLD, THEY HAVE BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH ICANN. WE ALSO CAN THINK THOSE ARE OUR OUTREACH POINT, BELONG TO OUR STRUCTURE. WE CAN EXPAND OUR STRUCTURE TO INCLUDE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS. THAT MAKES ICANN MORE POPULAR, GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED. THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH PROFESSOR QIAN. I THINK SOME OF THE ITEMS YOU RAISED ARE GOING TO BE THE SUBJECT OF CONTINUING DISCUSSION IN THE COMMUNITY, AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO EXPLORING THOSE IDEAS FURTHER.
I HAVE PETER, RAIMUNDO, AND TOM NILES, AND MIKE. SO PETER, I THINK YOU'RE NEXT.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. JUST PICKING UP ON WHAT PROFESSOR QIAN SAID, JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD OF THE OFFER, THE SECOND TIME IT'S BEEN MADE FROM THE MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH COMMITTEE OF APTLD YESTERDAY, THAT APTLD IS WILLING TO TALK TO ICANN ABOUT COOPERATING ONCE THE REGIONAL PRESENCE OBJECTIVES ARE MORE CLEAR.
PERHAPS I OUGHT TO CONFESS THAT PROFESSOR QIAN IS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE APTLD, AND I AM THE CURRENT CHAIR, SO WE HAVE AN INTEREST IT THAT.
>>VINT CERF: WHAT YOU HAVE IS A CABAL WITH YOU TWO SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, AND WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO SEE THIS COOPERATION.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST CLAUSES ARE COMING UP SHORTLY SO I THOUGHT WE BETTER DECLARE.
(LAUGHTER.)
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: CAN I TAKE US BACK TO THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION JUST TO CLARIFY WHAT I THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS THE FINAL PARAGRAPH LINKING BACK TO THE RECITAL FIVE. THE IMPORTANT PART HERE IS THAT EXPENDITURE ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS WHICH ARE CONTESTED BY THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS THE BOARD LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT CONCERN ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS THAT, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULT WITH, EITHER BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY ON THAT OR BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND FULLY YET EXACTLY HOW IT'S GOING TO BE SPENT OR HOW MUCH.
SO WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO IS ITEMIZE THE ONES THAT SEEM TO BE OF GREATEST CONCERN, AND THEY'RE LISTED IN RECITAL FIVE, SUPPORT FOR THE CREATION OF NEW NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FACILITATE DNSSEC. PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT. SPENDING FROM SEGREGATED FUNDS WITH SOME CARVE-OUTS FROM THE EXCEPTION FOR SOME THINGS THAT SEEM TO BE GENUINELY ACCEPTED AND IMPORTANT. AND THEN PERHAPS MOST CONTENTIOUSLY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW REGIONAL OFFICES. SO THEY'RE DESCRIBED IN THAT RECITAL AS BEING CONTESTED OR STILL AWAITING SOME DISCUSSION. AND THE FINAL PART OF THAT RESOLUTION SAYS WE WILL NOT SPEND ANY MORE MONEY ON THOSE THAN WAS ALREADY BEING SPENT LAST YEAR WHILE THAT DISCUSSION CONTINUES. THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BOARD -- THE BEST COMPROMISE. WE HAVE THE BUDGET, WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD. AND MUCH OF THE BUDGET WASN'T AT ALL CONTESTED. AND WE CAN GET ON WITH THAT. AND WE'VE PUT ASIDE THOSE ONES THAT ARE BEING CONTESTED WHILE DISCUSSION GOES ON.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, PETER. PUT ASIDE I THINK IS PROBABLY NOT QUITE RIGHT. WE WILL SIMPLY EXECUTE AT A LOWER RATE FOR THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT HAD FUNDING IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
RAIMUNDO, YOU ALSO HAD A COMMENT.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU, VINT. I WOULD LIKE TO --
I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT I AM VOTING IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
BUT FOLLOWING THE -- JUST APPROVED FOR THE MINUTES ON THE TELEPHONE CALLS, I WILL MAKE A STATEMENT OF WHICH IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I AM VOTING.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, NUMBER ONE, THAT THE BUDGET WE ARE ADOPTING HERE IS ONLY PROVISIONAL, TO THE EXTENT THERE'S A COLLABORATION/NEGOTIATION WITH ALL 11 CONSTITUENCIES AND THE BUDGET WILL BECOME DEFINITE ONLY BY THE END OF THAT COLLABORATION/NEGOTIATION.
NUMBER TWO, THAT CONSIDERING ALL WE HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THIS WEEK IN -- IN THE COLLABORATION/NEGOTIATION WITH ALL 11 CONSTITUENCIES, THE DATE BREAKDOWN OF ALL THE ITEMS OF THE BUDGET, OF THE EXPENSE BUDGET, WILL BE PROVIDED TO ALL PARTIES.
AND, NUMBER THREE, THAT IN THE COLLABORATION/NEGOTIATION WITH THE 11 CONSTITUENCIES, THE CLARIFICATION INDICATED IN -- I DON'T REMEMBER -- INDICATED IN LETTER "C" WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A REVIEW IF THIS CLARIFICATION HAS OR HAS NOT AN IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.
BECAUSE IT MAY BE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADINGS, OF WHAT IS WRITTEN TODAY IN THE OPERATIONAL PLAN, OR IT MAY ALSO BE A SIGNIFICANT -- HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: RAIMUNDO, THANK YOU FOR HELPING US UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEW OF THIS RESOLUTION.
I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT VIEW, AND ONLY IN THE FOLLOWING SENSE.
THE BUDGET IS THE BUDGET.
AND WHEN WE ADOPT IT, WE ADOPT IT.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE, AT LEAST IN THE TEXT THAT WAS READ, IS TO SAY THAT SOME ITEMS ARE PROVISIONAL IN THE BUDGET.
AND THOSE ITEMS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION.
THE BUDGET RESOLUTION SAYS THAT FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE UNDER DISCUSSION, WE WILL -- IF THERE ARE SPENDING LEVELS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN THOSE ITEMS UNDER DISCUSSION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND -- WE ARE PERMITTING THE STAFF TO SPEND UP TO THAT RATE AND NO MORE THAN THAT RATE UNTIL THE DISCUSSION IS ENDED AND RESOLUTION IS REACHED ON WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS.
I HOPE THAT'S NOT IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: I HOPE, TOO, IT'S NOT IN CONFLICT.
WE ENTERED IN A CYCLE OF COLLABORATION/NEGOTIATION WITH THE CONSTITUENCIES.
WE CANNOT SAY THAT THE FINAL NUMBER WILL NOT CHANGE.
IT MAY CHANGE; IT MAY NOT CHANGE.
I DON'T KNOW.
>>VINT CERF: IT'S POSSIBLE THAT IT WILL CHANGE.
IT DEPENDS A LOT ON WHAT COMES BACK.
BUT THIS NUMBER IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE ADOPTING FOR NOW.
NOTHING STOPS THE BOARD FROM CHANGING ITS BUDGET IN MIDYEAR IF CONDITIONS MERIT.
LET'S SEE.
SO THANK YOU, RAIMUNDO.
TOM MILES, YOU HAD A COMMENT.
AND THEN MIKE.
>>THOMAS NILES: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
JUST A FEW REMARKS.
FIRST, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD COMPROMISE.
AND I ALSO THINK IT REFLECTS THE POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BOARD, THE STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY ON WHAT HAGEN SAID WAS SOMEWHAT A CONTROVERSIAL AND VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR WORK.
SECONDLY, PROFESSOR QIAN MADE SOME VERY, VERY INTERESTING COMMENTS WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT, PARTICULARLY THE POINT ABOUT PREPARING FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES, WHICH COULD VERY WELL BE AHEAD, AND HAVING A RESERVE.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT.
THE LATEST STATISTICS FROM THE BANK OF CHINA SHOW THAT CHINA'S GLOBAL SAVINGS RATE IS 32% OF GDP.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ICANN WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT.
BUT IT COULD BE AN OBJECTIVE, A GOAL.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW WELL WE DO ON THAT.
PROFESSOR QIAN ALSO GAVE US SOME VERY INTERESTING THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW ICANN CAN STRUCTURE AND DEVELOP ITS OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.
AND WE DO, OBVIOUSLY, NEED TO DISCUSS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ALL INTERESTED PARTIES HOW THIS CAN BEST BE DONE.
AND THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT OF WORK THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THAT FRONT.
AND, FINALLY, PARTICULARLY AS WE LOOK TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE WSIS PROCESS AND BEYOND AND WE THINK ABOUT ICANN'S ROLE BEYOND THAT CONCLUSION OF THE SECOND STAGE OF THE WSIS SUMMIT, I THINK WE SHOULD BE ALERT TO WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, HOWEVER MUCH WE MAY BE TALKING ABOUT -- NO ONE KNOWS RIGHT NOW -- TO PROMOTE ICT DEVELOPMENTS, GREATER INTERNET CONNECTIVITY, GREATER AVAILABILITY OF THE EXTRAORDINARY PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT THAT COMES THROUGH INTERNET ACTIVITY, INTERNET CONNECTIONS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
THAT'S A REALLY -- I THINK SHOULD BE A FOCAL POINT FOR OUR OUTREACH ACTIVITIES IN THE PERIOD AHEAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, TOM.
MIKE, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: YES.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING KURT PRITZ FOR HIS HARD WORK IN THIS, IF YOU WILL, ANNUAL HERCULEAN MARATHON THAT HE HAS ENGAGED IN NOW FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I SOMETIMES THINK HIS HARD WORK MAY SOMETIMES GET OVERLOOKED.
SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HARD WORK.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE DRAFTING OF THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION.
DURING THIS WEEK, WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS -- OR I'VE HEARD SOME -- I THINK WE HAVE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCALABILITY OF ICANN'S BUDGET GOING FORWARD IN LIGHT OF THE DOT NET AND NEW STLD CONTRACTS, WHICH PLACE IT IN THE UPWARDS OF THE 40 TO $50 MILLION A YEAR RANGE.
AND THIS IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE.
AS A LONGTIME PARTICIPANT IN ICANN, I THINK BACK TO 1999, WHEN THE PER-DOMAIN NAME FEE WAS 4 CENTS PER DOMAIN NAME.
LAST YEAR, IT HAD ESCALATED UP TO 25 CENTS.
AND THIS YEAR, THAT IS STAYING CONSISTENT.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NEW REGISTRY FEE THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN DOT NET, THERE'S ACTUALLY A $1 CHARGE PER DOMAIN NAME. AND THE REASON I TRY TO POINT THIS OUT IS, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON THE GTLD REGISTRIES, REGISTRARS, AND REGISTRANTS, ALL THREE "R'S" WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY, THAT REPRESENT ABOUT 94% OF THIS YEAR'S CURRENT BUDGET.
ALTHOUGH I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE GROWING DEMANDS ON ICANN FROM VARIOUS FORCES, I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THIS -- THE SCALABILITY AND INEQUALITY.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT BASED UPON MY DISCUSSION WITH -- OR FEEDBACK FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE NOT ADVERSE TO THE CONTROLLED RESPONSIBLE GROWTH OF ICANN.
I THINK WHAT THEY WANT IS THEY WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS IN THE STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING CYCLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY THAT IS BEING COLLECTED IS BEING ALLOCATED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE ICANN STAKEHOLDERS.
SO THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
I HAVE MOUHAMET AND THEN TOM NILES.
>>MOUHAMET DIOP: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANT TO ECHO TWO POINTS OF VIEW, THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS BEEN RAISED BY PROFESSOR QIAN, AND ALSO TO GO IN THE LINE OF TOM NILES' ARGUMENT.
THE FIRST THING IS, WHEN TALKING ABOUT NEW PRESENCE, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO REMIND AND TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME DECLARATIONS IN THE PAST.
AND I JUST WANT TO RECALL, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAST MEETING WE HAVE IN CAPE TOWN WHERE WE HAVE THE WHOLE AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN FRONT OF US AND GIVE THEM SOME DECLARATION ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT TO DO WITH THEM AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM HAVE A BETTER OUTREACH AND A BETTER INTERACTION WITH ICANN AND AFRICAN STAKEHOLDERS.
SO, SO IT WILL HELP A LOT TO NOT HAVE A SHORT MEMORY IN THE PROCESS AND TRY, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE INTERACT WITH PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM HOPE, SO WE HAVE TO SEE HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND NOT IN SOME CASES JUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IDEAS OF SOME OTHER STAKEHOLDERS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS IN THAT PARTICULAR POINT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ICANN PRESENCE, WE'RE NOT TALKING -- WE KNOW THAT THE ONLY CONCERN IS REGION IN WHICH ICANN DID NOT HAVE ALREADY A PRESENCE.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO LISTEN CAREFULLY ABOUT THESE PEOPLE, WHAT THEY THINK, WHAT THEY NEED, AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE REALLY CONCERN ABOUT THE BUDGET.
BUT I THINK THAT THE BUDGET IS JUST AN IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND TO PROVIDE WHAT PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING FROM US.
THIS IS THE FIRST COMMENT.
THE SECOND ONE IS, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAVING, I THINK THAT WE HAVE -- WE MAY KEEP IN MIND THAT WE CAN SAVE FOR TWO PURPOSES.
SAVING CAN BE FOR THE FUTURE, A BETTER FUTURE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PROFESSOR QIAN IS TRYING TO EXPLAIN, THAT ICANN HAS TO SECURE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT COMING YEAR IF THERE'S NO INCOME.
BUT SAVING CAN BE ALSO DONE IN ORDER TO MAKE A BETTER DISTRIBUTION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
AND BASED ON THE SECOND ONE IN WHICH I AM TALKING ABOUT THE PROMOTION AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR OTHER REGIONS THAT NEED SOMETHING, I THINK THAT THE SAVINGS CAN HELP TO REALIZE SOME OF OUR DREAMS AND SOME OF OUR EXPECTATIONS WE ALREADY PHRASED IN THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IN WHICH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT GIVING SPECIFIC FUNDS FOR ANY PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET IN AREAS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONNECTIVITY OR ENOUGH RESOURCES.
I'M NOT GOING TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON IT TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY AND TO GIVE NUMBERS OR JUST SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND HOW MANY MILLIONS ON THAT.
THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE DECIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO GIVE MONEY TO THE WGIG/WSIS PROCESS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MINUTES -- AND I CAN RECALL IT HERE -- I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO ABSTAINED TO APPROVE THAT, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME, MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ICANN DECIDE TO PROVIDE FUNDS OUTSIDE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND FOR ME, SUCH A DECISION NEEDS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE TO HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSTITUENCY, BECAUSE IT IS A HISTORICAL DECISION THAT WE TAKE, IS TO PUT MONEY OR TO GIVE FUNDS, LIKE A SPONSOR, TO SOMETHING THAT IS OUTSIDE THE DIRECT ACTIVITY OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND SO SINCE WE MOVED FORWARD AND WE DID IT, I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE -- FOR ME, IT'S NO LONGER AN ISSUE.
AND IF WE KNOW THAT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE IS WHATEVER WE HELP GETTING A DEMAND SIDE, SO IT WILL BE AN EVOLUTION ON THE BUSINESS, AND EVERYBODY WILL BE WILLING, BECAUSE AT THE END, WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE BUDGET IS THE USER, THE REGISTRANT.
AND THESE USERS ARE NOT ONLY LOCATED IN ONE REGION OF THE WORLD.
THEY ARE LOCATED IN ALL REGIONS: AFRICA, ASIA, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE PAYING THE DOT COM, THE DOT NET.
THEY ARE PART OF THE PEOPLE PAYING THE BILL FOR ICANN.
AND WE HAVE A PROCESS OF COLLECTING THIS MONEY THROUGH THE REGISTRAR, THE REGISTRIES. AND THAT COMES TO THE BUDGET.
SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC FUND FOR THIS REGION IN ORDER TO HELP, I THINK THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT -- THAT IS NOT FAIR.
IT'S JUST A FAIR PROCESS IN WHICH ICANN THINKS THAT THEY CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THAT.
THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, MOUHAMET.
PAUL, I THINK I SAW YOUR HAND UP.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: THANK YOU, VINT.
CLEARLY, I WILL ALSO INDICATE, I WILL BE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION.
BOUGHT I THOUGHT I WOULD ALSO MAKE A CLARIFYING STATEMENT THAT FROM THE DISCUSSIONS AMONGST THE BOARD AROUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESOLUTION, THAT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT -- THE COMMON VIEW THAT AS THE COMMUNITY DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE ON SOME OF THESE ISSUES, THAT THEY MAY HAPPEN QUITE SWIFTLY, THEY MAY HAPPEN OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THERE'S NO REAL TIME LIMITING ON THAT, BECAUSE FROM WHAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THIS WEEK, ON SOME ISSUES, WHILE THERE ARE STILL UNCERTAINTIES, THEY'RE BECOMING CLEARER WHAT THEY ARE AND THERE IS SOME FURTHER RESOLUTION.
I WISH TO PUT THAT POINT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS BEING PRESENTLY HELD AT PRESENT EXPENDITURE RATES IS SPENDING FROM SEGREGATED FUNDS AS THEY APPEAR PRESENTLY IN THE OPERATIONAL PLAN, WITH SOME VERY SPECIFIC MUST-HAVE TECHNICAL CARVE-OUTS.
BUT THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS SITTING INSIDE THOSE SEGREGATED FUNDS ABOUT SOME OUTREACH ACTIVITIES OR WHAT HAVE YOU THAT ARE PRESENTLY BEING HELD, BUT WHICH I WOULD EXPECT THERE WOULD BE CONSENSUS COME BACK FROM PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY PRETTY QUICKLY.
AND THE BOARD IS LEAVING IT OPEN TO CONFIRM THAT WITHIN A QUICK TIME.
SO I'M JUST POINTING OUT THAT THERE MAY BE -- THERE MAY BE AREAS WHERE THE COMMUNITY MAY COME BACK REASONABLY QUICKLY ON SOME ISSUES.
THAT'S ALL.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE MIGHT TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THIS POINT TO THINK ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION MIGHT BE EXECUTED.
IT SPEAKS TO A RESPONSE COMING BACK FROM THE STAFF WITH ANALYSES OF WHAT THE VARIOUS ITEMS UNDER DISCUSSION LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF AMOUNTS SPENT AND PURPOSES FOR WHICH THOSE AMOUNTS ARE USED.
IT MIGHT VERY WELL TURN OUT THAT WE CAN DO THIS IN SUCH A WAY THAT AS THE INFORMATION IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD AND TO THE CONSTITUENCIES, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE ACTIONS STEP-WISE AS OPPOSED TO WAITING UNTIL ALL OF THE MATERIAL HAS BEEN PROVIDED.
I'M NOT ARGUING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.
I'M ONLY SUGGESTING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME INCREMENTAL PROGRESS AS WE CONDUCT THE DISCUSSIONS AND EVALUATIONS.
MOUHAMET, THE ONE THING THAT OCCURS TO ME AS YOU WERE DESCRIBING THE UTILITY OF ALLOCATING FUNDS THIS WAY IS THE -- THE RATIONALE FOR EXPENDITURE WITHIN THE MANDATE OF ICANN.
IT'S PRETTY EASY TO SEE THAT WE MIGHT BE VERY HELPFUL TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD TO HELP THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE ICANN PROCESS MORE FULLY, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR POTENTIAL ROLES.
I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR AFIELD ONE COULD GET OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL ICANN MANDATE BEFORE THE CONSTITUENCIES MIGHT ASK WHETHER WE HAD NOW GONE BEYOND A REASONABLE LIMIT.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO -- ESPECIALLY YOU -- TO DO, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN SO ELOQUENT IN THIS MATTER IS TO ENGAGE WITH THE CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD WITH REGARD TO ACCESS AND USE OF INTERNET.
OKAY.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
TOM.
>>THOMAS NILES: OUR ALERT COLLEAGUE, PETER, TOLD ME THAT DURING MY EARLIER COMMENT ON OUTREACH, PARTICULARLY SUPPORT FOR ICT DEVELOPMENT IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD, THAT I WAS ON THE TRANSCRIPT HERE -- IT SEEMED THAT I SAID I WANTED -- WE SHOULD PREVENT THAT DEVELOPMENT.
ACTUALLY, WHAT I MEANT TO SAY, IN FACT, WHAT I THINK I SAID, WAS PROMOTE THAT DEVELOPMENT.
SO IF I COULD JUST MAKE THAT ONE CLARIFICATION.
THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TOM, AND PETER.
ALEX, IS THAT YOUR HAND?
YOU'RE WELCOME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>>ALEJANDRO PISANTY: VINT, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN THE VIEW OF SEVERAL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, THESE CONTESTED ISSUES ARE REALLY -- I WON'T PROPOSE A CHANGE OF WORDING AT THIS POINT.
BUT THESE CONTESTED ISSUES ARE NOT ONLY CONTESTED, THEY ARE CONTESTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
>>VINT CERF: I THINK THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THIS RESOLUTION SPEAKS OF ITEMS UNDER DISCUSSION.
>>ALEJANDRO PISANTY: YES.
>>VINT CERF: WHICH I THINK IS A MORE ACCURATE CHARACTERIZATION THAN WHERE WE ARE IN THE BOARD AND WITH THE CONSTITUENCIES.
LAST CALL FOR ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION.
IF THERE ARE NONE, I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE.
IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR, YOU WILL BE ADOPTING THIS BUDGET FOR 2005/2006, SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AND THE ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO RESOLVE ITEMS UNDER DISCUSSION SO THAT A BUDGET CAN INCORPORATE THOSE AS WELL.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED.
MICHAEL.
I THINK THERE AREN'T ANY LEFT TO ABSTAIN.
MICHAEL, DO YOU WISH TO PUT ON THE RECORD A REASON FOR VOTING "NO"?
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: I BELIEVE MY PREVIOUS STATEMENT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: OKAY.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
MR. SECRETARY, THE VOTE IS 14-1-0.
AND THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED AS DESCRIBED.
ALL RIGHT.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS POLICY REVISION PROCESS.
AND I'LL ASK HAGEN, PLEASE, TO PUT THAT ON THE TABLE FOR US.
>>HAGEN HULTZSCH: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU, VINT.
IN MY REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE ON CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, I HAVE ALREADY MADE A KIND OF STATEMENT AND A VIEW OF WHAT THIS IS.
THIS ORGANIZATION MORE OR LESS HAS ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE INTERNET, IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNET.
OTHERWISE, ICANN WOULD NOT EXIST.
AND SOME OF US EVEN, LET'S SAY, RELY WITH THEIR PERSONAL REVENUE ON WHAT THE INTERNET IS PRODUCING AS BUSINESS.
AND THIS ALWAYS GENERATES SENSITIVITY ON POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND THAT'S WHY ESPECIALLY THIS ORGANIZATION MUST BE SO SENSITIVE THAT WHEREVER THOSE INTERESTS, THOSE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST MIGHT EXIST, THEY SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE BODIES OF THE ORGANIZATION OR, LET'S SAY, EVEN TO THE ORGANIZATION IN TOTAL.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS, LET'S SAY, REVISION OF THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY.
SO, NOW, THE TEXT, WHEREAS, THE CURRENT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY WAS ADOPTED MARCH 4, 1999, PURSUANT TO ICANN BYLAWS, ARTICLE V, SECTION 7, AND ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3B.
WHEREAS ICANN'S GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE CURRENT POLICY AND SUGGESTED CHANGES TO THE COMMITTEE AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMITTEE TO ENHANCE THE POLICY AND BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THIS POLICY.
WHEREAS, THE ICANN BOARD'S CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COMMITTEE IN THEIR MEETING ON 12 JULY 2005 DISCUSSED THE SUGGESTED REVISIONS AND MADE ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED CHANGES TO THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY.
WHEREAS, SUCH PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONFLICTS POLICY WILL SERVE TO CLARIFY AND BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THIS POLICY.
AND NOW THE RESOLUTION.
THE ICANN BOARD DIRECTS THE GENERAL COUNSEL TO COMPLETE THE SUGGESTED REVISIONS TO THE CONFLICTS POLICY AND TO PRESENT THE REVISIONS TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE BOARD MEETING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 2005.
THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HAGEN.
IS THERE A SECOND?
I SEE PROFESSOR QIAN.
THERE'S A HORSE RACE TO GET INTO THE SECOND COLUMN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PROFESSOR QIAN.
BEFORE I ASK FOR COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION, LET ME JUST MENTION THAT IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR ICANN TO REVIEW ALL OF ITS VARIOUS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THE INTENTION IS TO GIVE MORE CLARITY TO THE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY, THE BOARD MEMBERS, AND THE LIAISONS AS TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH REGARD TO MAKING ANY CONFLICTS UNDERSTANDABLE AND VISIBLE, PARTICULARLY TO THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMMITTEE.
SO I REALLY STRONGLY ENDORSE THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO HELP BOARD MEMBERS AND OTHERS TO RECOGNIZE AND TO RECORD AND DRAW ATTENTION TO CONFLICTS THAT MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE CONDUCT OF THEIR DUTY AS BOARD MEMBERS OR AS LIAISONS OR OFFICERS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION?
I SEE PETER AND PROFESSOR QIAN.
I SEE RAIMUNDO AND MIKE.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: MR. CHAIRMAN, I SUPPORT WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE THE THRUST OF THIS.
BUT I JUST WORRY, PERHAPS AS A LAWYER, THAT THERE'S A SLIGHT CONCLUSIONARY SORT OF FEELING TO THIS THAT I'M SURE IS NOT INTENDED.
WE ACTUALLY HAVEN'T SEEN AT THE BOARD ANY OF THE DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO YET IN THE RECITALS.
SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS OR AMENDMENTS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND SO WHEN WE COME TO THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE GENERAL COUNSEL TO COMPLETE IS THE DRAFTING REVISIONS. AND IF WE COULD ADD THE WORD "SUGGESTED DRAFTING REVISIONS," THAT MAKES IT QUITE CLEAR THAT WHAT HE IS DOING IS STILL DRAFTING, JUST TO TAKE OUT THE IMPRESSION THAT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DECIDED.
AND THEN TO PRESENT THE REVISIONS TO THE FULL BOARD, CLEARLY THAT'S THE APPROVAL STEP AT WHICH ALL THIS MATERIAL WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE.
>>VINT CERF: I GUESS -- I'M NOT OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING, PETER.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT BECAUSE IT SAYS THEY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND PRESENT THE REVISIONS, AT THAT POINT, IF WE WEREN'T HAPPY WITH IT, WE WOULD SAY SO AND GO ON.
SO IN THAT SENSE, IT IS A DRAFT.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: YES.
I THINK JUST THE EXTRA BIT OF CLARITY WOULD HELP.
IT MAY BE THAT IT IS BEING BROUGHT BACK FOR THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS.
IT MAY BE COMING BACK FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THE OTHER ATTORNEY SORT OF SUGGESTS -- I APPRECIATE PETER'S COMMENTS, FROM A LEGAL DRAFTING STANDPOINT.
>>VINT CERF: OKAY.
MR. SECRETARY, THE SUGGESTION FOR REVISION IS TO MAKE THIS FINAL RESOLUTION READ, "TO COMPLETE THE DRAFTING OF THE SUGGESTED REVISIONS."
AND THEN THE REST READS AS IT DID BEFORE.
PROFESSOR QIAN, YOU ALSO HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>>HUALIN QIAN: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
BECAUSE I LACK KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE LEGAL THINGS, SO THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE CONFLICT, WHAT'S NOT, BECAUSE IT'S -- MAYBE IN MANY OCCASIONS, IT'S VERY CONFUSED.
I'M ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE.
SO I HOPE THAT COUNSEL AND OUR OTHER MEMBERS CAN, WORKING ON DOING CASE STUDIES, PROVIDE A LOT OF CASES.
SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TEMPLATES FOR PEOPLE TO FILL OUT, OTHERWISE, WE DO THINGS VERY DIFFERENTLY.
I SEE MANY PEOPLE JUST LISTING, "I PARTICIPATED IN THIS ACTIVITY, I AM RELATED TO THAT ORGANIZATION."
AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE JUST SIMPLY SAY, "I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST."
SO THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT.
SO WHEN WE ENCOUNTER SOMETHING AND MAKE A DECISION OR MAKE A RESOLUTION, WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE THIS IS INVOLVED WITH THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR NOT.
SO....
>>VINT CERF: I WILL TAKE THAT AS TWO SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS.
ONE IS TO CONSIDER PRODUCING SOME EXAMPLES OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHICH, BY THE WAY, WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY HELPFUL FOR INCOMING BOARD MEMBERS TO HAVE, IN FACT, MAYBE EVEN FOR PROSPECTIVE BOARD MEMBERS, TO HAVE ACCESS TO TO SEE WHAT KINDS OF CONFLICTS MAY ARISE.
AND SECOND, I TAKE IT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE ADVICE OF COUNSEL WHENEVER YOU THINK A CONFLICT MIGHT BE PRESENT.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE A CONFLICT QUESTION TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFLICTS COMMITTEE, YOU GET BACK ADVICE FROM THE CONFLICTS COMMITTEE, AND SOMETIMES FROM OUR COUNSEL.
I THINK I SAW ALSO RAIMUNDO.
DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
PROFESSOR QIAN SAID ALMOST THE SAME THING I WAS WAITING TO SAY.
AND I AGREE WITH HIM.
AND I WAS MENTIONING THAT YESTERDAY MORNING, THAT THE -- THIS NEED TO HAVE A TEMPLATE, BECAUSE THE STATEMENTS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS AN OLD MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE, THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT ONE FROM ANOTHER.
SOME OF THEM STATED, "TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I HAVE NO CONFLICTS," AND THE OTHERS DETAILED VARIOUS POTENTIAL CONFLICTS.
NUMBER TWO, I THINK THAT THE TEMPLATE WHICH, IN FACT, IS A QUESTIONNAIRE, THE TEMPLATE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS THE TEMPLATE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHOULD FILL.
AND THE TEMPLATE SHOULD HAVE THE EXAMPLES WHICH WERE MENTIONED BY PROFESSOR QIAN.
NUMBER THREE, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHOULD BE PUBLIC.
THE COMMUNITY SHOULD KNOW WHICH ARE THOSE POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, WHICH DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE COULD BE A -- THERE COULD BE SOME NONPOTENTIAL BUT EFFECTIVE CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, AND THOSE ONES SHOULD BE HANDLED IN A CONFIDENTIAL WAY BY THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST COMMITTEE.
AND, FINALLY, AND THIS WAS MENTIONED ALSO YESTERDAY, THE -- PROBABLY THE -- OR CERTAINLY THE -- THERE SHOULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY THE LIAISON WHICH ARE SHARING THE SAME KIND OF INFORMATION THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT ON THE BOARD, BUT THEY HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF THE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME THE TEMPLATE, AS PROFESSOR QIAN SAID, IS A GOOD IDEA.
I THINK THAT WILL GIVE MORE UNIFORMITY AND QUALITY TO THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST STATEMENTS.
LET'S SEE.
MIKE, DIDN'T YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
AND THEN, PETER, I SEE YOUR HAND IS UP AS WELL.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SERVING ON THE CONFLICTS COMMITTEE SINCE MY APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
THESE REVISIONS -- THESE REVISIONS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE OUR FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING IN CARTHAGE.
AND I THINK THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS BUILDING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE SO THE COMMUNITY CAN RELY ON THE INTEGRITY OF THIS BOARD'S ACTION.
SO JUST THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: PETER.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: YES.
NOT TO DO WITH THE MOTION, WHICH I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF NOW THAT IT'S BEEN AMENDED THE WAY I ASKED -- BUT THIS ISSUE OF CONFIDENTIALITY HAD -- OF THE STATEMENTS HAD PREVIOUSLY ESCAPED ME.
I DON'T RECALL OF EVER BEING THE SUBJECT OF ANY SORT OF POLICY DISCUSSION.
AND I WONDER IF WE COULD ASK THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THAT ISSUE.
I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THE WISHES OF DIRECTORS OR POTENTIAL DIRECTORS TO WISH TO KEEP THEIR COMMERCIAL MATTERS CONFIDENTIAL.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL ELEMENT OF THE PUBLIC TRUST IN DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
AND I THINK SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THOSE GET RESOLVED MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE.
>>VINT CERF: AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, THE -- I DID SEE YOUR HAND, NJERI.
AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED DON'T -- DON'T INCLUDE MENTION OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR AND THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF TRYING TO DO THAT.
I CAN IMAGINE A FEW EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS WHERE CONFIDENTIALITY WOULD BE LEGALLY REQUIRED.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WERE ABOUT TO MERGE WITH ANOTHER COMPANY AND THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION UNTIL IT'S PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED PROPERLY, IT MIGHT CONSTITUTE A CONFLICT WHICH I WOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO REPORT TO THE COMMITTEE.
BUT THE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IT COULD BE RELEASED PUBLICLY.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD ALL END UP IN A GOOD DEAL OF TROUBLE, AT LEAST IN THE U.S., WITH OUR SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
NJERI, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP ALSO.
>>NJERI RIONGE: I THINK I WOULD REQUEST ALSO THAT WE ALSO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOKING AT THAT CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE ON THE -- ON SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS IN LIGHT WITH ALSO WHAT YOU'VE SAID, VINT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, I KNOW THAT IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO ALSO SEE WHETHER WE CAN ACTUALLY CONSIDER HAVING STATEMENTS OF INTEREST, NOT JUST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AND PERHAPS THAT'S ANOTHER ANGLE OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE INTERESTS WOULD BE.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, NJERI. I HOPE THAT THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST COMMITTEE IS TAKING NOTE OF THESE VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS BY THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
LET'S SEE. DID I MISS -- ROBERTO HAD A COMMENT.
>>ROBERTO GAETANO: YES. IN LIGHT ALSO OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF THE LIAISON AND NONVOTING MEMBER, IN ANY CASE, IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND IN -- ULTIMATELY IN THE DECISIONS OF THE BOARD, AND CONSIDERING THAT FOR THE TIME BEING, THE -- AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE DECLARATION FOR NONCONFLICT OF INTEREST HAS BEEN NOT REQUIRED -- HAS BEEN GIVEN ONLY ON AN VOLUNTARY BASIS BY LIAISONS. IF WE HAVE A TEMPLATE, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THAT TEMPLATE WILL BE FILLED BY ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, VOTING AND NONVOTING. THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, RAIMUNDO.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: NO --
>>VINT CERF: I THINK THAT IS THE GENERAL THRUST OF WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, BUT WE WILL SEE, OF COURSE, WHEN THE REVISIONS COME BACK FOR BOARD REVIEW.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION? IF THERE ARE NOT, IF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, YOU WILL BE INSTRUCTING THE STAFF TO TAKE MATERIALS FROM THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST COMMITTEE AND FROM THE COMMENTARY WHICH YOU JUST HEARD AND PRODUCE A NEW REVISION OF THE CONFLICTS-OF-INTEREST POLICY FOR ICANN AND THEN RETURN TO THE BOARD WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
MR. SECRETARY, THE CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST POLICY REVISION PROCESS RESOLUTION IS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA HAS TO DO WITH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK NJERI, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION.

>>NJERI RIONGE: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. AS PER MY REPORT YESTERDAY FROM THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO, IN FACT, COMPLETE THE WORK OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER BY GAINING PROPOSALS FROM ALL THE RELEVANT AREAS THAT ARE REQUIRED FROM LEGAL TO CANCEL AND SO ON.
SO I WILL BRING FORWARD THE RESOLUTION AND STATE THAT WHEREAS, ICANN'S AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER WAS APPROVED BY THE ICANN BOARD ON 10TH MARCH 2000, CONSISTENT WITH ICANN BYLAWS, CARL XII, SECTION 1. WHEREAS, ICANN BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE AT THIS MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG AGREED THAT THE ICANN BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE AUDITING METRICS AND PROCEDURES USED THROUGHOUT ICANN TO KEEP THE AUDITING CARTER CURRENT WITH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND AUDITING PRACTICES. IT WAS RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD HEREBY REQUESTS THE BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE CURRENT BOARD AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER AND ALSO REVIEW BEST PRACTICES FOR NON-PROFIT AUDITING FUNCTIONS. RESOLVED, THE BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE BOARD'S AUDITING FUNCTIONS TO THE FULL BOARD IN TIME FOR THE NEXT CONSIDERATION -- FOR ITS CONSIDERATION AT ICANN'S VANCOUVER MEETING. THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE A SECOND? I SEE VENI HAS SECONDED THAT.
BEFORE I CALL FOR COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION, I WANT TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL STEP FOR ICANN. IT'S NOT SIMPLY THE NORMAL PRACTICE TO REVIEW CHARTERS AND TO ASSESS OUR -- OUR AUDITING PROCEDURES, BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH METRICS FOR PERFORMANCE IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION OF ICANN.
AND SO I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A RATHER IMPORTANT STEP.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION OF THIS? OKAY, I'VE GOT ALEX AND MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, ALEX.
I THINK YOU -- THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK YOU TOUCHED ON AN IMPORTANT WORD, "METRICS." I THINK A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD IN CONNECTION WITH THE STRATEGIC AND THE OPERATIONAL PLAN HERE THIS WEEK IS ABOUT LINKING PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO AGAIN, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE IS THE INCREASED USE OF METRICS TO BE REFLECTED ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION'S EFFICIENCY, AND THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, MIKE. ALEX.
>>ALEJANDRO PISANTY: VINT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RECORD, AND FOR THE SUBSTANCE OF THE RESOLUTION, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL IS VERY WELL RECEIVED. WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT PREVIOUSLY IN BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. AND THE ONLY THING WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH IS THE EXACT REACH AND SOURCE OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE METRICS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AUDIT FUNCTION IS EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE. IT GOES, AS NJERI HAS INSISTED, ALL THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION, NOT ONLY THE FINANCIALS BUT ALSO TO THE CONTROLS, MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE, AND THE ACTUAL PERFORMANCE.
AND WE ARE JUST STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORDING IS SO PRECISE THAT IT LEAVES CLEAR WHERE THE PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES COME FROM AND WHERE THE MEASUREMENT AND SO FORTH COMES FROM. THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR EXTREME PRECISION. BUT OTHERWISE, THE PROPOSAL IS OF COURSE VERY WELL RECEIVED AND I'M COMMITTING PERSONALLY TO PUT THIS FORWARD IN THE BGCS AS EFFECTIVELY AND CONSISTENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, ALEX. JUST AS A REMINDER FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T REMEMBER, ALEX IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, SO HE RECEIVES THE TASKING THAT COMES FROM THE ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NJERI.
>>NJERI RIONGE: I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT AND BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE FUNCTION OF AUDIT IS REALLY A FUNCTION FOR CHECKS. THE METRICS THAT ARE CHECKED ARE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED BY MANAGEMENT AND STAFF, BUT THEY NEED TO EXIST. AND THE AUDIT FUNCTION IS TO CONFIRM THAT THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ENTIRE FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS AS WELL AS THE ORGANIZATIONAL OBJECTIVES.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, NJERI.
MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: AGAIN, JUST A POINT I'D LIKE TO RAISE. OUT OF ALL THE BOARD, NJERI HAS THE MOST EXPERIENCE IN THIS. SHE HAS OPINION CERTIFIED, AND I THINK WE WILL BE WELL SERVED TO DEFER TO HER -- NOT DEFER, BUT TO LISTEN VERY CLOSELY TO HER EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, MIKE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION? IF NOT, I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE. IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS, WE WILL PASS THE BUCK, SO TO SPEAK, TO THE BOARD GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE RESULTS OF THAT WORK BY OR BEFORE VANCOUVER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
THANK YOU. PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.
MR. SECRETARY, THE AUDIT COMMITTEE REVIEW RESOLUTION HAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA HAS TO DO WITH SOME WORK CONDUCTED BY OUR ESTEEMED CHAIR AND HIS COMMITTEE, THE SECURITY AND STABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, STEVE CROCKER.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS INVITE MOUHAMET MOUHAMET DIOP TO PUT THIS RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
>>MOUHAMET DIOP: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHAIRMAN.
I'M VERY GLAD TO INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION. AND JUST TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK STEVE FOR THIS GOOD JOB. AND AS AN ICANN COMMUNITY, I THINK WE NEED MORE AND MORE THIS TYPE OF REPORT IN ORDER TO HAVE A BETTER SUMMARY AND BETTER TOOLS AND READINGS FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS JUST TO REINFORCE WHAT RICHARD WAS SAYING, THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE DEMAND SIDE AND NOT ONLY THE SUPPLY SIDE OF THE INTERNET COMMUNITY.
SO THE SSAC DOMAIN HIJACKING REPORT. WHEREAS, ON 12 JULY 2005, ICANN'S SECURITY AND STABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SSAC, PUBLISHED A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON DOMAIN NAME HIJACKING. THE REPORT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A VALUABLE WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY THE SSAC AT THESE MEETINGS IN LUXEMBOURG.
WHEREAS, THE SSAC REPORT INCLUDES RECOMMENDED STEPS TO BE TAKEN BY REGISTRIES, REGISTRARS, RESELLERS, REGISTRANTS, AND ICANN TO PROTECT DOMAIN REGISTRATION FROM THE THREAT OF DOMAIN HIJACKING.
RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD HEREBY ACCEPTS THE DOMAIN NAME -- THE DOMAIN HIJACKING REPORT, AND THANK SSAC CHAIR STEVE CROCKER, SSAC FELLOW DAVE PISCITELLO, THE MEMBERS OF SSAC, AND ALL OTHER CONTRIBUTORS TO THEIR EFFORT IN THE CREATION OF THE REPORT.
RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD DIRECTS STAFF TO FORWARD THE DOMAIN HIJACK REPORT TO ICANN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEES, SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD REQUESTS THAT INTERESTED PARTIES DEVELOP A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES FOR DOMAIN NAME PROTECTION, MAKE THIS INFORMATION PUBLICLY AVAILABLE, AND SCHEDULE A FOLLOW-UP REVIEW OF THIS SUBJECT IN APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MOUHAMET.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THIS MOTION?
PROFESSOR QIAN SECONDS, AND I THINK STEVE, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP.
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: YES. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MOUHAMET, FOR THE KIND WORDS.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND I WANT TO TAKE NOTE THAT THIS PARTICULAR EFFORT INVOLVED A HIGH DEGREE OF COOPERATION WITH THE ICANN STAFF AS WELL AS THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE AND OUR NEW ICANN FELLOW.
DAVE, ARE YOU IN THE AUDIENCE SOMEWHERE? HE'S OFF DOING WORK, I SUSPECT.
I'M EAGER TO INTRODUCE HIM TO YOU AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY HERE.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE OF THIS KIND OF WORK AND BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY PARTICULAR KINDS OF ISSUES AS WE DID HERE BUT ALSO THE -- THIS IS PART OF A BROADER THEME ABOUT LOOKING AT HOW THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM FIT TOGETHER AND SOME OF THE EMERGENT PROPERTIES THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU FIT THESE VARIOUS PIECES TOGETHER.
SO WITH THAT, I THANK THE BOARD FOR ITS ATTENTION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS AND THE COUNCILS ON LOOKING AT EACH OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SEEING WHAT -- WHAT ARE THE USEFUL WAYS TO ACCEPT THEM OR CONSIDER THEM.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, STEVE.
MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE RESOLUTION, WHERE IT STATES THAT THE ICANN BOARD REQUESTS THAT INTERESTED PARTIES DEVELOP A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES.
MY CONCERN HERE IS RELATED TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 1 WHICH VESTS, IF YOU WILL, THIS -- WITHIN THE GNSO, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND RECOMMENDING TO THE ICANN BOARD SUBSTANTIVE POLICIES RELATED TO GENERIC TOP-LEVEL DOMAINS.
I WOULD WONDER IF THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES. THE ICANN BOARD REQUESTS THAT THE ICANN STAFF, IN COORDINATION WITH THE GNSO AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, DEVELOP A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES.
SO THAT WOULD BE MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS CONSISTENT WITH ICANN STAFF WORKING WITH ALL IMPACTED STAKEHOLDERS, BUT AGAIN RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE ROLE THAT THE GNSO PLAYS IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
>>VINT CERF: I'M SORRY; DEMI AND THEN STEVE.
>>DEMI GETSCHKO: JUST TO COMMENT ON THIS, ALSO THE CCNSO HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S ALSO PRACTICING IT BETWEEN THE CCS. AND ALSO TO THANK STEVE FOR ALL THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THESE THING HAPPEN. AND FOR THE BOARD, THAT AS AN EXAMPLE, THE .BR IS BEGINNING TO APPLY DNSSEC TO THREE SUBDOMAINS OF HISTORY, AND WE ARE GOING FORWARD TO DEPLOY THIS.
JUST A COMMENT.
>>VINT CERF: HANG ON, MIKE.
I HAVE STEVE AND PAUL ALSO ON THE LIST. MIKE, IS THIS AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE?
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: YES, IT IS.
>>VINT CERF: THEN PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, DEMI. AGAIN, THIS IS -- THE REASON I -- THE REASON I ORIGINALLY JUST STATED WITHIN THE GNSO IS I KNOW WE, THE ICANN BOARD, ARE VERY SENSITIVE TOWARDS, IF YOU WILL, MANDATING OR RECOMMENDING ANYTHING UPON THE CCNSO COMMUNITY.
I WOULD -- AS FAR AS RE-WORDING THAT, I WOULD SAY THE ICANN BOARD IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS, IF WE COULD USE SOME OF THE LANGUAGE THAT I THINK WE HAD USED EARLIER.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ICANN, IN DEVELOPING THESE BEST COMMON PRACTICES, ARE GOING TO THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS.
I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF, THAT WE ARE, ACCORDING TO THE BYLAWS, A BOTTOM-UP, CONSENSUS-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.
>>VINT CERF: LET'S SEE. I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE QUEUED UP HERE. I SEE MOUHAMET'S HAND AS WELL.
LET ME SUGGEST SOMETHING TO YOU, MIKE. THE REQUEST, THE LETTER THAT COMES WITH THIS REPORT ASKED FOR FAIRLY BROAD CIRCULATION OF THE REPORT OUTSIDE OF THE CONFINES OF ICANN.
SO THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE I THINK WAS DRAWN UP WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE REPORT WOULD BE FORWARDED NOT ONLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN ICANN BUT ALSO OTHERS.
I WONDER IF I COULD SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE TO YOUR PROPOSAL THAT MIGHT PRESERVE THE BREADTH OF THE DISTRIBUTION WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, PROTECTING AGAINST THE CONFUSION THAT I THINK YOU WERE TRYING TO PREVENT.
IF WE SAID THAT ICANN BOARD ENCOURAGES INTERESTED PARTIES TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES, NOW, THE CONSIDERATION IN THE CASE OF THE SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE ICANN STRUCTURE WOULD PRESUMABLY DO SO WITHIN OUR NORMAL PROCESS, IN WHICH CASE SOMEBODY WOULD BE ASSIGNED THE RESPONSIBILITY.
THE OTHERS WHO AREN'T PART OF ICANN, OF COURSE, ARE FREE TO DO WHATEVER THEY LIKE.
I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I'M TRYING TO PRESERVE A CERTAIN BREADTH OF DISTRIBUTION HERE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I GUESS -- AND I THINK I COULD VOTE ON THIS. I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE FOLLOWING.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN THE GTLD COMMUNITY, IT'S BASED UPON CONTRACTS. THAT'S THE -- THE ESSENCE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE UDRP.
NOW, IF WE ARE TO GET THESE BEST COMMON PRACTICES CONTRACTUALLY INCORPORATED INTO THE GTLD SPACE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE DONE THROUGH A PDP. BECAUSE I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER WAY OF GETTING THAT DONE. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRANSFER -- THE TRANSFER DISPUTE POLICY, THE UDRP, THESE ARE ALL DONE THROUGH CONSENSUS POLICY.
I WILL WITHDRAW MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. I WILL SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AS IT IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN. I AM JUST DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WHATEVER THE INTERESTED PARTIES COME UP WITH, WE MAY NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE WORK BEFORE THEY CAN BE MANDATED VIA CONTRACT.
SO AGAIN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT, BUT THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: ACTUALLY, MICHAEL, I WANT TO -- DON'T WANT YOU TO DO WHAT YOU JUST DID. WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO IS, IN FACT, ADOPT THE LANGUAGE THAT I WAS SUGGESTING, BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE THE PARTIES, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF ICANN, TO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO BEST PRACTICES. AND THOSE WITHIN, AS YOU CLEARLY POINT OUT, ARE REQUIRED TO DO SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
SO THAT WILL PROTECT THE INTERNAL PART. BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE THE OTHER PART ABOUT ENCOURAGING THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME THING.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'LL DEFER.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAD A LIST OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE. STEVE, PAUL, AND SOMEBODY WHOSE NAME I CAN'T -- I CAN'T READ ANYMORE. WHO DID I MISS? WELL, STEVE, GO AHEAD.
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: (INAUDIBLE) PAUL FIRST.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: ACTUALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER TO YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY FIRST.
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: THANK YOU. SO LET ME OFFER UP A COMMENT ABOUT THE ADOPTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FROM WHERE I SIT.
I DON'T THINK THAT MANDATING OR CONTRACTUAL ADOPTION IS NECESSARILY THE CRITICAL EVENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR HERE. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONCEPTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN THE INDUSTRY AND A MATURATION IN THE CONCEPT OF HOW THE INDUSTRY WANTS TO BEHAVE.
I THINK AN ENTIRELY PLAUSIBLE PATH, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CCTLDS OR REGISTRARS OPERATING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OR GTLDS OR OTHERS, IS THAT LEADERSHIP AMONG SOME WILL PAINT THE WAY, PAVE WAIT FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW. NOT SO MUCH IN A MANDATED WAY BUT IN A -- AS I SAY, IN AN OPINION-ORIENTED WAY.
NOTHING THAT WE HAVE IN MIND PRECLUDES INDIVIDUAL REGISTRARS, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SUPPLY TO REGISTRARS. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF A SLOW AND BULKY PROCESS IF WE TOOK THE VIEW THAT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT UNLESS THEY GOT A CONTRACT CHANGE THAT ALLOWED THEM TO DO THAT.
IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THAT IF THERE WERE AN ENFORCEMENT -- IF THERE WAS A MANDATE THAT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE CAREFULLY THROUGH THE BOTTOMS-UP PROCESS AND WORK THROUGH ALL OF THAT, AND THAT'S ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE, BUT I THINK THERE IS A NATURAL, EARLIER PERIOD WHERE THE IDEAS GET EXPERIMENTED AND WORKED OUT IN A THOUGHTFUL WAY AMONG THE -- WE HAVE ENORMOUS ENERGY IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY AND THEY CAN MOVE MUCH, MUCH FASTER. I MEAN, FOR ALL I KNOW, THERE ARE VARIOUS REGISTRARS TAKING OUT BANNER ADS SAYING WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS AND WE ARE COMPETITIVELY BETTER, BEFORE -- WITHOUT ANY TIME TO THINK ABOUT POLICY DEVELOPMENT OR CONTRACTUAL CHANGES. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A MUCH HEALTHIER PROCESS OVERALL. CODIFYING IT AT THE END OF THE DAY THROUGH A PDP AND CONTRACT CHANGES IS A NICE WAY TO PUT A CAP ON THAT PROCESS.

SO THAT IS REALLY THE PICTURE THAT WE HAD IN MIND. AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE DID A PERFECT JOB, BUT THE DRAFTING OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USED IN THE TRANSITION MEMO WAS INTENDED NOT SO MUCH TO PUT FORCE OF LAW, IF YOU WILL, FROM THE BOARD BUT SIMPLY TO PASS THIS ALONG AND RECOMMEND FOR CONSIDERATION AND A BOTTOMS-UP ADOPTION AS APPROPRIATE, AND THEN LET NATURAL FORCES AND THE APPROPRIATE FORCES FOLLOW FROM THERE.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD APPLY BROADLY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST CONSTRAINED WITHIN THE CONTRACTUALLY CONTROLLED PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, STEVE. LET ME GET PAUL.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: CAN I RESPOND JUST TO STEVE'S COMMENTS?
>>VINT CERF: PAUL IS YIELDING THE FLOOR. GO AHEAD.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: WE'LL LEAVE THE CEO WITH THE LAST WORD.
THANK YOU, STEVE, FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, AND I APPRECIATE IT. AND WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I KNOW IN SPEAKING WITH SOME OF THE REGISTRARS, THAT VOLUNTARY -- THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WILL BE VOLUNTARILY LOOKING TO TAKE THE LEAD TO IMPLEMENT THIS SOONER AS OPPOSED TO LATER.
I ALSO AGREE WITH, IF YOU WILL, YOUR IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES OR COURSE OF ACTION.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WANTED TO TRY TO STRESS HERE IS MANAGING EXPECTATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND HERE'S MY CONCERN, IS IF ICANN SORT OF ADOPTS A BEST COMMON PRACTICE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS, THERE MAY BE AN EXPECTATION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, THEREFORE, IT IS MANDATORY.
I JUST -- MY CONCERN HERE IS MANAGING EXPECTATIONS.
THAT'S IT.
>>VINT CERF: OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU, MIKE.
PAUL, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP, SO I THINK YOU'RE THE LAST ONE ON THIS.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: JUST QUICKLY, VINT, I AGREE VERY MUCH WITH WHAT THE TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS SAID. IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO -- IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN INADVERTENT IN MIKE'S CASE WHEN HE GAVE THE PREVIOUS POTENTIAL CHANGING. HE REFERRED TO THE STAFF DEVELOPING SOMETHING. I WAS GOING TO SAY IT WAS MY PERSPECTIVE THIS WAS NOT A STAFF THING AT ALL. IT WAS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE INDUSTRY.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: BUT THE GNSO NEEDS THE HELP OF STAFF IN DOING THAT.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: YES. STAFF'S WORK FOR THE GNSO IS CLEAR, BUT THE STAFF SHOULDN'T BE -- I WOULDN'T WANT LANGUAGE THAT SAID THAT THIS WAS STAFF'S THING TO DEVELOP, SO....
>>VINT CERF: OKAY. MOUHAMET.
>>MOUHAMET DIOP: I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S A COMMENT. IT'S JUST A QUESTION FOR MY EDUCATION, BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM MICHAEL COMMENT.
HERE IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE PUT INTO A PDP. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S JUST LIKE ICANN BOARD ENCOURAGE THAT INTERESTED PARTIES DEVELOP A SET OF COMMON PRACTICE.
IT MEANS THE SET OF COMMON PRACTICES IS NOT -- I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS DOCUMENT HAS THE BEST COMMON PRACTICE. IT MEANS THAT THE RESOLUTION SAY THAT.
PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF DEVELOPING PDP ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THIS INFORMATION A PART OF THE PROCESS. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS.
AND I'M NOT SEEING THIS INTERFERING IN ANY PDP PROCESS. IT'S AN ADVISORY ROLE, AND ANY ORGANIZATION CAN GIVE AN ADVICE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION, BECAUSE WE ADOPT AS A BOARD RESOLUTION THAT THIS IS A VALUABLE INPUT TO ANY PDP. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. SO I'M NOT SEEING THIS INTERFERING WITH THE PDP IN ITSELF.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU. DEMI.
>>DEMI GETSCHKO: MAYBE WEAK DO SOME CHANGE IN THE WORDING THAT WHERE IT SAYS REQUEST, WE CAN CHANGE REQUEST FOR ENCOURAGES.
>>VINT CERF: YES, DEMI, I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT WAS THE SUBSTANCE OF MY SUGGESTION, AS WELL. SO THIS RESOLUTION WOULD READ, "THE ICANN BOARD ENCOURAGES INTERESTED PARTIES TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES FOR DOMAIN NAME PROTECTION," ET CETERA.
I THINK THE ONLY ISSUE WITH REGARD TO PDP IS, AS MICHAEL SAYS, IF IT BECAME A COMMUNITY BELIEF THAT IT SHOULD BE ENFORCED, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NORMAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT. BUT IF IT'S A VOLUNTARY THING, AS MOUHAMET POINTED OUT, THIS IS GOOD INPUT.
STEVE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DAVE PISCITELLO IS IN THE ROOM AND YOU MIGHT WISH TO SPEAK TO THAT.
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO.
DAVE, YOU -- YOU'RE THE MAN.
PLEASE STAND UP AND TAKE A BOW. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE....
(APPLAUSE.)
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?
>>VINT CERF: NEVER TURN DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN OPEN MIKE.
>>DAVE PISCITELLO: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF THE FACT THAT THE CTO OF HUSH COMMUNICATIONS, ONE OF THE INCIDENTS THAT WAS REPORTED AND DESCRIBED IN THE HIJACKING REPORT, CONTACTED ME BY E-MAIL TODAY AND THANKED US FOR THE WORK AND WAS VERY HAPPY THAT ICANN WAS PICKING UP ON DOMAIN HIJACKING AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PROGRESS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK IT'S -- IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE GRASP WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE HAD SUCH SUCCESS WITH THE SSAC MY FIRST -- MY FIRST ATTEMPT OUT. SO THANK YOU
(APPLAUSE.).
>>STEPHEN CROCKER: THANK YOU.
>>VINT CERF: WELL, WE'VE CERTAINLY TALKED THIS ONE AT LENGTH.
LET ME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY MORE COMMENTS ON THIS RESOLUTION. IF NOT, WE WILL BE VOTING ON THE AMENDED RESOLUTION, THE THIRD RESOLUTION PARAGRAPH WILL READ "THE ICANN BOARD ENCOURAGES INTERESTED PARTIES TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A SET OF BEST COMMON PRACTICES," ET CETERA. AND I ASK THE BOARD SECRETARY TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN.
MR. SECRETARY, THE HIJACKING REPORT RESOLUTION IS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAVE A DOCUMENT WHICH HAD A LABEL OR HAS A LABEL THAT SAYS STRATEGIC PLAN ON IT, BUT FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES, IT IS NOT A DOCUMENT THAT IS FULLY AGREED. IT IS A DOCUMENT THAT HAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF AGREEMENT WIDELY IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALSO A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CONTENT THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION.
SO PETER DENGATE THRUSH HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN TRYING TO HELP THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY TO WORK TOWARDS A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT ON.
SO, PETER, I GUESS I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU TO LEAD THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD DO WITH THE EXISTING DOCUMENT THAT WE LABEL STRATEGIC PLAN.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: THANKS, VINT.
>>VINT CERF: PLEASE KEEP IT, YOU KNOW, SUITABLE AND CIVILIZED FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: RIGHT.
YOU'VE READ SOME OF MY POSTS, OBVIOUSLY.
(LAUGHTER.)
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: I JUST WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO US ALL NOW, IF IT WASN'T FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES ELSEWHERE, THAT DESIGNING AND INSTALLING A STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE DERIVED DOCUMENTS, THE OPERATIONAL PLAN AND THE BUDGET, WHILE WE'RE CARRYING ON OUR MISSION IS A BIT LIKE PERFORMING OPEN-HEART SURGERY WHILE THE PATIENT IS UP AND WALKING AROUND.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE CULTURES AND TO SET UP THE SYSTEMS TO DO THAT WHILE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXISTING ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IS BUSY TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY.
SO WE HAVE TO HAVE -- EXPRESS THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE TO TRY AND ACHIEVE THAT.
AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE RESPONSE TO TAKE THOSE OUTPUTS, DISCUSS THEM, DEBATE THEM, FIGHT OVER THEM IN THE USUAL CONSTRUCTIVE, IF SOMETIMES COMBATIVE WAY THAT WE ARE PIONEERING HERE IN ICANN.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FORMALLY ADOPT THE PLAN I THINK IS PROBABLY THE BOTTOM LINE, EITHER WITH AMENDMENTS OR EXCISIONS OR WITH CHANGES, OR WITH TAKING PORTIONS OUT AND PUTTING THEM IN SUSPENSE, WHICH ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IN HOW TO DEAL WITH A DOCUMENT, LARGE PARTS OF WHICH ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AS BEING WORTHWHILE AND SUPPORTED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AS ALWAYS, WE'VE TENDED TO FOCUS ON THE BITS WHERE WE DISAGREE.
BUT THERE ARE LARGE PORTIONS OF IT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE.
PROBABLY ALSO FAIR TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK, A MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS WERE INCLINED PROBABLY TO ADOPT THE STRAT PLAN, PROVIDED WE COULD COME TO SOME ARRANGEMENT TO DEAL WITH THE DIFFICULT BITS.
BUT I THINK MOST OF US HAVE RESPONDED THIS WAY TO THE CLEARLY EXPRESSED SENSE OF UNEASE FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT ENOUGH UNEASE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T READY TO BE ADOPTED.
AND WE NOTED ALSO THAT SOME OF THIS UNEASE, LOOKING BACK THROUGH THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETINGS, AS WE DID, A LOT OF THE UNEASE RELATES TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION OF BEING ABLE TO TRACK A STRATEGIC IDEA OR A STRATEGIC GOAL THROUGH INTO AN OPERATIONAL PLAN AND THEN INTO A BUDGET. AND WE HAVE GOT UNDERTAKINGS FROM THE STAFF THAT THIS IS WELL UNDERSTOOD AS A REQUIREMENT AND TO WORK ON IMPLEMENTING THAT IN THE COMING YEARS.
THE OTHER REASON I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO THROUGH SOME KIND OF ADOPTION PROCESS IS IT ACTUALLY DEALS IN ITS FIRST YEAR WITH '04/'05, WHICH IS NOW PAST.
THE SECOND YEAR, '05/'06, WE HAVE JUST ADOPTED A BUDGET FOR.
SO THAT NO LONGER NEEDS A STRATEGIC DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE HAD THAT DISCUSSION IN RELATION TO THE BUDGET FOR THAT YEAR.
SO WHAT WE'RE NOW FOCUSING ON IS COMING OUT WITH A PLAN FOR THE '06/'07 PERIOD AND FOR THE TRIENNIUM AFTER THAT.
THE OTHER COMMENT TO MAKE IS THAT THE BOARD IS WORKING ON THE FORMATION OF A BOARD STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL MEAN THAT THE BOARD TAKES ITS PART IN THIS PROCESS ACTIVELY FROM NOW ON.
AND I PERSONALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE A VERY RAPID FORMATION OF THAT TO ALLOW IT TO GET ON WITH ITS WORK AND ASSIST WITH THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE CONSULTATIONS, TAKING PART IN THE SESSIONS WITH THE TERMINALS AND THE SUGGESTIONS.
SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS CAME FORWARD.
AND I THINK, VINT, WE NOW LOOK FORWARD TO THAT COMMUNITY INPUT BEING REVEALED IN THE NEXT DRAFT OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PETER.
MICHAEL.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: IN THE INTEREST OF EFFICIENCY, I WILL CONCUR WITH THE COMMENTS OF PETER IN THEIR ENTIRETY.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU FOR THAT SUCCINCT STATEMENT.
LET ME MAKE A SUGGESTION -- OH, I'M SORRY, ALEX.
LET ME GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.
>>ALEJANDRO PISANTY: I WOULD -- IN COMPLEMENT AND ADDITION TO THESE COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE WORK THAT WAS DONE HERE BY PATRICK SHARRY.
I AM ALWAYS SKEPTICAL OF TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO PLANNING AND TO THE COLLECTIVE DISCUSSION.
THEY TEND TO FLATTEN THE DISCUSSIONS SOMEWHAT.
BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE, IT WAS AMAZING HOW A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT HAD BEEN RATHER SILENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE MOST RECENT MONTHS APPEARED, AND WHERE CLUSTERS OF PRIORITIES AND CLUSTERS OF GROUPS EMERGED AROUND THESE PRIORITIES.
I THINK THAT COMPLEMENTING THAT WITH OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY TYPE OF DISCUSSION HAS DEFINITELY BEEN VERY USEFUL.
>>VINT CERF: OOPS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALEX.
A SMALL SUGGESTION.
I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE VALUE OF THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THAT DOCUMENT.
AND EVEN IF WE DON'T ADOPT IT AS THE CURRENT STRATEGIC PLAN, LET ME ASK IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD AND TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS MEETING A SENSE OF THE BOARD THAT THIS DOCUMENT REPRESENTS VERY USEFUL INPUT TO THE NOW-CURRENT PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE FUTURE-YEAR PERIOD, 2006 TO 2009.
IF THAT'S AGREEABLE TO THE BOARD, I WILL ASK THE SECRETARY TO SO NOTE IN THE MINUTES THAT THIS PLAN BECOMES INPUT TO OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLANNING CYCLE TO TAKE FROM IT THAT WHICH THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD CONSIDERS TO BE MOST RELEVANT AND USEFUL.
WOULD ANY BOARD MEMBER OBJECT TO A RECORD SHOWING THAT?
MIKE.
>>MICHAEL PALAGE: USEFUL NONBINDING INPUT?
>>VINT CERF: YES.
RAIMUNDO.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: I WILL TRY TO REACT TO THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, TO THE EXTENT THAT, AS I HAVE BEEN SAYING IN PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS DURING THIS WEEK, THE GENERALIZED OPINION OF PEOPLE WHO WERE -- LIKE MYSELF, WHO WERE PROPOSALS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, I HAVE BEEN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING OFFICER OF A LARGE CORPORATION FOR 12 YEARS, AND I KNOW OF WHAT I AM SPEAKING.
RULE NUMBER ONE, GOLDEN RULE NUMBER ONE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING IS THAT THE PROCESS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DOCUMENT.
SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A VERY GOOD PROCESS.
SO TO THAT EXTENT, THE QUALITY OF THE INPUT, IF IT'S GOOD, BAD, OR NOT SO GOOD, IT DOESN'T -- IT IS NOT IMPORTANT AT THIS MOMENT.
IN ANY CASE, IT WAS THE RESULT OF WHAT CAME FROM THAT PROCESS, WHICH IS A GOOD PROCESS.
SO MY SENSE, IT'S AN INPUT, AND I WILL NOT CODIFY IT.
>>VINT CERF: SO I WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THAT, FOR THE RECORD THAT ANY INPUT IS NONBINDING, MIKE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE FOR DEVELOPING OUR STRATEGIES.
SO IF THE SECRETARY WILL SO NOTE, WE WILL LEAVE THAT TOPIC UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT BOARD MEMBERS WOULD WISH TO MAKE.
PAUL AND THEN ALEX.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO PUT ON THE TABLE MY THANKS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE PROCESS TO DATE, AND I THINK -- I THOUGHT THE ANALOGY OF STARTING TO DO OPEN-HEART SURGERY WHILE YOU'RE DOING THE BUSINESS, I THINK THE OTHER ASPECT IS THAT THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED, THEN WE GOT THE PATIENT OUT, THEN WE HEADED TO THE OPEN-HEART SURGERY, IS QUITE APT, AND I THINK IT'S IN -- IN THE SPIRIT OF ICANN, IT'S BEEN A NOISY PROCESS.
BUT IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO HAVE GONE.
ACTUALLY, IT'S PROBABLY FASTER THAN MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WOULD HAVE GOT TO IN TERMS OF LEARNING A PROCESS AND IN TERMS OF DOING THIS TOGETHER.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, I SUPPOSE, PUT SOMEWHAT ON THE TABLE THAT I THINK WE'RE IN A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL SPACE NOW.
AND I WANTED TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT SUCCESS.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.
ALEX.
IN THAT CASE, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OTHER BUSINESS.
AND MY -- I ACTUALLY HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS HERE.
SO I KNOW, PETER, YOU HAVE ONE.
BUT IF YOU'LL FORGIVE ME, I JUST WANT TO MENTION SOME THINGS IN THE "OTHER BUSINESS" SECTION.
ONE OF THEM IS TO CONFIRM THAT THE WGIG REPORT IS NOW OFFICIALLY RELEASED.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.
THIS ALSO MEANS, HOWEVER, THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE COMMENTS ON IT WHICH WILL BECOME A PART OF THE RECORD.
AND I REALLY, SERIOUSLY ENCOURAGE EACH OF YOU TO CONSIDER MAKING COMMENTS ON THE WGIG REPORT WITH THE INTENT OF IMPROVING THE RESULTS THAT GO FORWARD NOW TO THE WSIS, PREPCOM AND THE WSIS PROCESS.
THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO MENTION UNDER "OTHER BUSINESS" IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOME -- WE HAVE BEEN GIVING SOME THOUGHT TO THE FORMAT OF THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE, THESE MEETINGS LIKE THE ONE THAT WE'RE IN NOW.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR VARIATIONS ON THE WAY IN WHICH WE STRUCTURE THESE MEETINGS.
IT IS INTENDED THAT A POLL BE PREPARED TO ASK SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THESE ICANN MEETINGS TO GET SOME SENSE OF WHAT THINGS WORK WELL AND WHAT THINGS DON'T WORK SO WELL.
BUT I AM GOING TO PUT MY MEETINGS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AT RISK HERE AND SUGGEST THAT, IF HE'S WILLING, THAT OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT MEETING STRUCTURE, INDEPENDENT OF A POLL WHICH MIGHT BE RELEASED, COULD ALSO COME TO VENI MARKOVSKI.
AN EXAMPLE OF A CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT I'M SEEING, ON THE GOOD SIDE, AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL INTERACTIONS.
WE SEE THE GAC MEETING WITH MANY DIFFERENT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS; WE SEE THE BOARD MEETING WITH THOSE SAME SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS; WE SEE CROSS-CONSTITUENCIES MEETING WITH EACH OTHER.
BUT THE MATHEMATICIAN IN ME SAYS THAT THERE'S AN N SQUARED OR MAYBE A 2 TO THE NTH PROBLEM HIDING IN THAT GROWTH OF INTERACTION.
SO I'M BEGINNING TO THINK THAT POSSIBLY THAT THEME-SPECIFIC OR SUBJECT-SPECIFIC MEETINGS IN WHICH MULTIPLE OF THE GROUPS AT INTEREST MIGHT MEET TOGETHER WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY OF ORGANIZING AT LEAST PART OF THE TIME THAT WE SPEND HERE.
I CERTAINLY HAVE NO INTENTION OF TRYING TO FORCE ANYTHING ON ANYONE.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE SOME FRESH THINKING.
OTHERWISE, THESE MEETINGS WILL TEND TO GO FOR SIX TO SEVEN TO EIGHT TO NINE TO TEN OR MORE DAYS.
AND NONE OF US CAN, I THINK, AFFORD THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
SO PLEASE BE THINKING ABOUT AND BE WATCHFUL FOR MEETING-RELATED QUESTIONS.
AND PLEASE DO -- VENI, IF YOU SAY IT'S ALL RIGHT -- PLEASE DO SEND VENI MARKOVSKI IDEAS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR MEETING STRUCTURE VARIATIONS.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME INTERJECT THAT.
PETER, I KNOW YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE ITEM OF OTHER BUSINESS YOU'D LIKE TO BRING UP.
>>PETER DENGATE THRUSH: YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
JUST A -- UPDATING ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE NEW GTLD POLICY, IF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE PRESENT SAW OLOF AS PRESENTATION, HE FINISHED BY SAYING THAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE DONE AT LUXEMBOURG.
WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS AT THIS MEETING BUT WE HAVEN'T QUITE FINISHED THAT.
WHAT WE HAVE GOT IS A VERY ROUGH DRAFT OF -- MODELED ON THE MOTION THAT IS BEFORE THE MEETING ON INITIATING THE REVIEW OF THE GNSO, WHICH WILL, IN GENERAL, FORM, AGAIN, ASK THE GNSO TO WORK WITH THE STAFF TO PREPARED AN OUTLINED STRATEGY OF HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO AHEAD, INCLUDING ADDRESSING THE METHODS BY WHICH CONSULTATION WITH THE OTHER ICANN SOS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATION, WHICH IN THE OPINION OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNCIL COULD SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE STRATEGY.
IT MAY ALSO BE THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT TYPICAL CONSULTATION, THAT MORE FORMAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERTAKEN, FOR EXAMPLE, COMMISSIONING PAID CONSULTING WORK OR SURVEYS.
THE INDICATION, IF WE CAN GIVE THAT TO THE COMMUNITY, IS THAT THE TEXT OF THAT RESOLUTION IS LIKELY TO BE RESOLVED BY OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, WHICH I AM TOLD BY THE PRESIDENT IS THE 18TH OF AUGUST.
SO WITH A NOTE THAT WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOT THERE YET BUT ARE CLOSE, THAT'S THAT ITEM.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC AT THIS POINT?
PAUL.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: JUST, AGAIN, I THINK IMPORTANTLY TO SIGNAL TO THE COMMUNITY, THE STAFF ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESOLUTION AMONGST THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WAY GOING FORWARD.
THE STAFF IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING WHATEVER THAT PROCESS IS WHEN IT IS IN PLACE AND THE STAFF IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO PREDETERMINE THAT.
AND SO I JUST -- AS PEOPLE MIGHT POTENTIALLY MISREAD DOCUMENTS THAT GO OUT TO KEEP THE PROCESS GOING, WE ARE CONSCIOUS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR PROGRESS AND THAT WE HAVE TIME LINE ISSUES.
AND SO PERHAPS THE STAFF IS A BIT OF A GINGER GROUP IN TERMS OF TIMING.
BUT I WANT TO REINFORCE FOR ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO (INAUDIBLE) WHAT THE BOARD WILL COME OUT WITH IN THAT PROCESS SO WE CAN SUPPORT IT.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.
ALL OF US HERE ON THE BOARD APPRECIATE THAT SPIRIT OF SUPPORT AND COOPERATION.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS OF NEW BUSINESS, WE MOVE ON NOW TO THE LAST PORTION OF OUR MEETINGS, IN WHICH WE OFFER OUR THANKS TO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE FOR THEIR SERVICE TO ICANN AND THE COMMUNITY AND TO ALL OF US SPECIFICALLY HERE IN WHEREVER THE HELL WE ARE -- LUXEMBOURG.
SO, PAUL, I THINK THAT THE FIRST ONE OF THESE THANKS IS UP TO YOU.
>>PAUL TWOMEY: THANK YOU, VINT.
WELL, AS MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW, DOUG BARTON HAS BEEN A STRONG CONTRIBUTOR TO THE OPERATION OF THE IANA.
DOUG HAS INDICATED HIS INTENT TO MOVE ON AND TO MOVE TO OTHER ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF HIM BECOMING A -- RECENTLY BECOMING A FATHER AND WITH INCREASED DEMANDS ON HIS ABILITY TO TRAVEL, AND HE'S LOOKING FOR SOME FURTHER CHANGES.
SO I'D LIKE TO PUT ON THE -- TO THE BOARD ON THE RECORD THIS FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.
THAT WHEREAS DOUG BARTON HAS BEEN THE GENERAL MANAGER OF IANA SINCE DECEMBER 2003.
WHEREAS DOUG HAS NOTIFIED ICANN'S PRESIDENT THAT HIS SERVICES TO ICANN WILL CONCLUDE AT THE END OF THIS MEETING.
WHEREAS, THE ICANN BOARD NOTES WITH GRATITUDE AND AFFECTION THE COMMITMENT AND ENTHUSIASM WITH WHICH DOUG HAS SERVED ICANN AND THE GLOBAL INTERNET COMMUNITY.
IT'S RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD FORMALLY RECOGNIZES DOUG BARTON'S SERVICE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OPERATION OF THE IANA AND TO ICANN AND EXPRESSES ITS GOOD WISHES TO DOUG IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
>>VINT CERF: I WOULD MOVE THAT -- IS THERE A SECOND?
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THIS BY ACCLAMATION.

(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: WE HAVE ANOTHER THANK YOU TO SOMEONE WHO I THINK IS NOT IN THE ROOM.
JOHN KLENSIN MAY HAVE ALREADY RETURNED TO THE U.S. NO?
WHERE IS HE?
>> HE'S ALREADY RETURNED HOME.
>>VINT CERF: HE'S ALREADY RUN AWAY FROM US.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ANOTHER RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE TO THANK JOHN FOR HIS SERVICE AS LIAISON.
HE WAS THE FIRST LIAISON TO SIT ON THE BOARD ON BEHALF OF THE INTERNET ENGINEERING TASK FORCE.
HE WAS PUT INTO THAT POSITION IN AUGUST OF 2003 AND CONCLUDED THAT SERVICE IN JUNE OF 2005.
THE RESOLUTION READS AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS JOHN KLENSIN HAS CONTRIBUTED ENORMOUSLY TO THE EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF BOARD MEMBERS DURING HIS TIME AS IETF LIAISON TO THE BOARD AND THROUGH HIS MANY PRESENTATIONS AND WRITINGS HAS ALSO HELPED TO GUIDE THE ICANN COMMUNITY THROUGH MANY TECHNOLOGICAL THICKETS, MOST ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONALIZED DOMAIN NAMES, BUT IN A VAST RANGE OF OTHER TOPICS AS WELL.
IT IS RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO JOHN KLENSIN FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE BOARD AND THE ICANN COMMUNITY AND EXPRESSES ITS HOPE THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE ICANN COMMUNITY FOR CONSULTATION AND ADVICE.
I PUT THIS ON THE TABLE AND ASK THAT YOU SECOND AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY ACCLAMATION.

(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: MR. SECRETARY, THE MINUTES WILL SHOW THERE WAS LOUD AND LENGTHY APPLAUSE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER THANK YOU.
AND THIS IS TO ANOTHER ONE OF OUR LIAISONS AND FORMER BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK DEMI IF HE WOULD PUT THIS RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE.
>>DEMI GETSCHKO: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME, AS A BRAZILIAN, TO PUT FORWARD THE MOTION REGARDING TO FRANCISCO DA SILVA, PORTUGUESE COLLEAGUE OF US, THE BOARD.
THE MOTION READS, WHEREAS, FRANCISCO DA SILVA WAS APPOINTED AS THE LIAISON TO THE ICANN BOARD BY THE TECHNICAL LIAISON GROUP IN AUGUST 2003 AND CONCLUDED HIS SERVICE IN FEBRUARY 2005.
WHEREAS FRANCISCO DA SILVA HAS SERVED THE BOARD WELL IN HIS LIAISON CAPACITY, WITH WARMTH, CHARM, GOOD HUMOR, AND TECHNICAL SKILL.
RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO FRANCISCO A. JESUS DA SILVA FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE BOARD AND THE ICANN COMMUNITY, AND OFFERS TO HIM ITS WISH FOR LONG AND HEALTHY LIFE FILLED WITH SATISFACTION AND SUCCESS.
>>VINT CERF: I WOULD CALL ON ALL OF YOU TO PUT THIS ON THE TABLE A SECOND AND ACCEPT BY ACCLAMATION.
(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: IS FRANCISCO IN THE ROOM?
I WAS HOPING THAT HE -- HE HAD BEEN CIRCULATING AROUND FOR A WHILE.
BUT I GUESS HE'S DISAPPEARED.
HE'S BEEN TO TOO MANY OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS AND KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I HAVE TO CALL NOW ON PAUL TWOMEY ONCE MORE TO MAKE THE NEXT RESOLUTION FOR US.

>>PAUL TWOMEY: AS MANY IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW, PAUL VERHOEF, WHO SERVED AS ICANN'S VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY SUPPORT ON THE VERY GRACIOUS (INAUDIBLE) OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, RECENTLY LEFT TO REJOIN A SOMEWHAT DREAM JOB IN THE COMMISSION TO BE THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE GALILEO PROJECT.
THE GALILEO PROJECT IS THE LARGEST-BUDGETED ITEM BEING MANAGED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING IN PLACE GPS SATELLITE SYSTEMS.
THEREFORE I'D LIKE TO PUT TO THE BOARD THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.
WHEREAS PAUL VERHOEF SERVED AS ICANN'S VICE PRESIDENT, POLICY SUPPORT, FROM JANUARY 2004 THROUGH JUNE 2005.
WHEREAS PAUL VERHOEF HAS TAKEN MANY TRUTHFUL INITIATIVES TO ESTABLISH DIALOGUE WITH VARIOUS ICANN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE EUROPEAN CCTLD REGISTRIES AND PURSUED SUBSTANTIVE INTERACTIONS IN THE INTERNATIONAL POLICY COMMUNITY, IT'S RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO PAUL VERHOEF FOR HIS SERVICES TO ICANN AND THE GLOBAL INTERNET COMMUNITY AND WISHES HIS GREAT SUCCESS IN HIS NEW ROLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE EUROPEAN GALILEO GLOBAL POSITIONING SATELLITE INITIATIVE.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PAUL.
I ASK THAT YOU SECOND AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY ACCLAMATION.

(APPLAUSE.)
(STANDING OVATION.)
>>VINT CERF: SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOMEONE TO SNEAK UP BEHIND PAUL VERHOEF AND PUT A LITTLE SIGN ON HIS BACK THAT WILL READ, "DON'T FOLLOW ME; I'M A LOST PACKET."

(LAUGHTER.)
>>VINT CERF: WE HAVE JUST THREE MORE OF THESE.
THE NEXT ONE IS TO A LONGSTANDING PARTICIPANT IN THE ICANN COMMUNITY WHO HAS SERVED US, ALL OF US, AND THE GAC VERY WELL.
AND I'VE ASKED ALEX TO PLEASE PUT THIS RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE.
>>ALEJANDRO PISANTY: THANK YOU, VINT.
WHEREAS CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF ICANN'S GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE SINCE ITS INCEPTION WOULD BE THE AMENDED TEXT THAT I WOULD PROPOSE.
WHEREAS CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON HAS SERVED IN COUNTLESS WAYS AS AN AMBASSADOR TO THE INTERNET COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS HEAD OF ITS SECRETARIAT WITH PANACHE, HUMOR, AND A NOTABLE DEVOTION TO DUTY.
WHEREAS CHRISTOPHER HAS ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO RETIRE, RESOLVED THAT THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS GRATITUDE TO CHRISTOPHER WILKINSON FOR HIS SERVICE TO ICANN AND THE GLOBAL INTERNET COMMUNITY AND WISHES HIM A LONG AND HEALTHY FUTURE WHEREVER HIS RETIREMENT MAY TAKE HIM.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALEX.
LET'S SECOND AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY ACCLAMATION.
(APPLAUSE.)
>>VINT CERF: I THINK CHRISTOPHER HAS ESCAPED.
I DON'T SEE HIM HERE TODAY.
BUT, FORTUNATELY, HE WAS HERE YESTERDAY, AND WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY SOMETHING THEN.
IS THERE -- OH, YES, SHARIL.
>>SHARIL TARMIZI: MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHRISTOPHER.
I -- SINCE WE ARE ON THANK YOUS AND BEFORE YOU GO TO THE LAST THANK YOU, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU TO ICANN STAFF AND THE ICANN COMMUNITY FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE WHEN OUR GAC COLLEAGUE FROM CHILE, GONZALO NAVARO, INJURED HIMSELF DURING FOOTBALL.
HE'S NOW OKAY, BUT WITH A PLASTER CAST ON HIM, AND HE HAS ACTUALLY DISLOCATED HIS ELBOW AND BROKE A RADIUS BONE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS POOR CHAP IS GOING TO FLY BACK TO SANTIAGO.
WITH SOME DIFFICULTY, I PRESUME.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS MIKE PALAGE AND ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHOSE NAME I DID NOT GET WHO STEPPED IN AND JOINED THE GAC TEAM TO CARRY ON WITH THE FOOTBALL GAME.
SO THE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, SHARIL.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL -- YES, RAIMUNDO.
>>RAIMUNDO BECA: THANK YOU, VINT.
AS HE IS MY FELLOW COUNTRYMAN, I THINK MYSELF AND THE OTHER CHILEANS HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
HE WAS QUITE OKAY.
HE IS TRAVELING TONIGHT AND GOING WITH PARTICIPANTS ALREADY ON THE SAME PLANE.
>>VINT CERF: I HOPE YOU WILL CONVEY -- RAIMUNDO, I HOPE YOU WILL CONVEY ALL OUR GOOD WISHES FOR A RAPID RECOVERY.
FINALLY, THERE ARE TWO OTHER THANK YOUS TO MAKE.
AND I HAVE ASKED VENI MARKOVSKI TO LEAD THOSE FOR US.
VENI.
FINALLY, ALREADY TWO OTHER THANK YOUS TO MAKE, AND I'VE ASKED VENI MARKOVSKI TO LEAD THOSE FOR US. VENI.
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: THANK YOU. AND BEFORE I READ THEM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE SOCCER. THERE WAS A WARNING IN ARGENTINA, LUCKILY NO BROKEN BONES. I THINK WE SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER SWITCHING TO ANOTHER GAME, LIKE CHESS, CARDS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT
(LAUGHTER.)
(APPLAUSE.)
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: I'M SERIOUS, BY THE WAY.
>>VINT CERF: VENI, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES, I KEEP SUGGESTING BLIND WINE TASTING, BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE ME UP ON IT
(LAUGHTER.)
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: OKAY. SO WE HAVE TWO MORE RESOLUTIONS. THANKS TO SCRIBES, SPONSORS AND TRANSLATORS. RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD EXTENDS ITS THANKS TO ALL SPONSORS OF THE MEETING, INCLUDING PUBLIC INTEREST REGISTRY, P&T LUXEMBOURG, AFILIAS GLOBAL REGISTRY SERVICES, VERISIGN, GDNX AND LOGIC BOXES, DOMAINS .PH, EURODNS AND THAWTE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORT MADE BY THE STAFF OF THE CONFERENCE CENTER KIEM TO MEET OUR MANY REQUESTS.
THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS GREAT APPRECIATION TO THE ICANN STAFF PRESENT HERE IN LUXEMBOURG; TO LAURA BREWER AND TERI DARRENOUGUE, AND THE REST OF THE ICANN STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATED EFFORTS IN ENSURING THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE MEETING.

>>VINT CERF: THANK YOU, VENI. LET'S PUT THIS ON THE TABLE, SECOND AND ACCEPT BY ACCLAMATION.
(APPLAUSE.)
(STANDING OVATION.)
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: JUST ONE NOTE. IT WAS NOT APPLAUSE, AS IT'S WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPT. IT WAS STANDING OVATION.
>>VINT CERF: STANDING OVATION. THAT'S RIGHT.
OKAY. VENI, YOU HAVE ONE MORE.
>>VENI MARKOVSKI: AND THE LAST ONE IS THANKS TO LOCAL HOSTS, WHEREAS, ICANN HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ITS JULY 2005 ICANN MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG CITY, LUXEMBOURG. WHEREAS, THE GRACIOUS AND WARM HOSPITALITY, UNIQUE FACILITIES, STRONG SUPPORT AND CLOSE ATTENTION TO FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF PARTICIPANTS HAVE ALL BEEN TRULY MAGNIFICENT. RESOLVED, THE ICANN BOARD EXPRESSES ITS DEEP APPRECIATION AND THANKS, ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ALL PARTICIPANTS, TO THE LOCAL HOST COMMITTEE:
CHAIRMAN PATRICK VANDE WALLE AND CEO ANNE DESCHUYTEER OF ISOC LUXEMBOURG, THEO DEHAUTPAS AND FONDATION RESTENA, ISABELLE MARINOV AND TOM KETTELS, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS, THE TECHNICAL TEAM OF CAROLE PLATZ, GILLES KONSBRUCK, MATHIAS VON BONKOWITZ AND LE GOVERNMENT DU GRAND-DUCHE DE LUXEMBOURG, AND MOST PARTICULARLY TO THE MINISTERE D'ETAT, SERVICE DES MEDIAS ET DES COMMUNICATIONS AND MINISTER JEAN-LOUIS SCHILTZ.
AND I HOPE I MANAGED TO PRONOUNCE THEM CORRECTLY.
>>VINT CERF: I THINK YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB. THIS IS WHY I ASKED YOU TO DO IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK I COULD.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S PUT THAT ON THE TABLE AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY ACCLAMATION.
(APPLAUSE.) (STANDING OVATION)

>>VINT CERF: AS LONG AS YOU'RE STANDING UP -- WELL, ALL RIGHT. SIT DOWN.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR PROGRAM. I HAVE ONLY ONE OTHER THANK YOU, AND THAT IS TO THE BOARD AND THE STAFF AND TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR CANDOR, FOR YOUR CIVILITY, AND FOR YOUR DETERMINATION TO MAKE THIS ICANN SYSTEM WORK.
WE'RE WITH YOU. WE WILL BE WITH YOU IN VANCOUVER. AND WE WILL COMMUNICATE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AND AFTERWARDS. HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY HOME.
SEE YOU ON THE NET.
(APPLAUSE.)