Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » 2013-02-01 - Update on Addressing GAC Advice on Enforcing Applicants' Commitments

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

2013-02-01 - Update on Addressing GAC Advice on Enforcing Applicants' Commitments


Resolution of the ICANN Board
Topic: 
GAC Advice on Enforcing Applicants' Commitments
Summary: 

The New gTLD Program Committee directs the President and CEO to seek public comment on a proposed mechanism to address the GAC's advice regarding transforming new gTLD applicants' statements of purpose and business plans for the applied-for gTLDs into contractual commitments subject to oversight.

Category: 
gTLDs
Meeting Date: 
Fri, 1 Feb 2013
Resolution Number: 
2013.02.01.NG02
Status: 
Complete
Implementation Actions: 
  • Seek public comment regarding a proposed mechanism to address GAC advice
    • Responsible entity: President and CEO
    • Due date: None provided
    • Completion date: 5 February 2013
Resolution Text: 

Whereas, applicants for new gTLDs identified certain purposes of the applied for gTLD and certain business plans that they intend to incorporate into the operation of their registry, but much of these plans are not currently anticipated to be incorporated as obligations into Registry Agreements.

Whereas, the GAC's Toronto Communiqué includes advice to ICANN that "it is necessary for all of these statements of commitment and objectives to be transformed into binding contractual commitments, subject to compliance oversight by ICANN."

Whereas the New gTLD Program Committee has devised a proposed mechanism to address the advice of the GAC.

Resolved (2013.02.01.NG02), the New gTLD Program Committee directs the President and CEO to seek public comment on a proposed mechanism to address the GAC advice on these additional applicant commitments.

Rationale for Resolution: 

It is important to determine if it is possible to address the advice received from the GAC on this issue. Creating a mechanism through which applicants will make binding commitments to ICANN in alignment with their applications could serve to promote the transparency and accountability of all within the ICANN community. While work still remains in developing this mechanism, it is anticipated that the creation of these binding commitments will benefit the public interest.

The work called for in this resolution will require resources to complete, though it is not anticipated that this planning work will exceed budgeted resources. If properly implemented, the introduction of a mechanism to incorporate additional binding commitments could result in a positive benefit on the security, stability and resiliency of theDNS.

Additional Information: