Historical Resolution Tracking Feature » Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice (CCT) Review – Implementation Plan on Six Accepted Recommendations
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.
Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice (CCT) Review – Implementation Plan on Six Accepted Recommendations
Whereas, ICANN was obligated under the Affirmation of Commitments to "organize a review that will examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust and consumer choice, as well as effectiveness of (a) the application and evaluation process, and (b) safeguards put in place to mitigate issues involved in the introduction or expansion." A community-led review team – the Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice Review Team (CCT-RT) – was announced on 23 December 2015 to fulfill that mandate.
Whereas, the CCT-RT submitted a Final Report containing 35 full consensus recommendations to the ICANN Board for consideration on 8 September 2018 ("Final Report").
Whereas, the ICANN Board took action on each of the 35 recommendations issued within the Final Report as specified within the scorecard titled "Final CCT Recommendations: Board Action (1 March 2019)" ("Scorecard").
Whereas, the Board resolved to accept CCT recommendations 1, 17, 21, 22, 30, 31, subject to costing and implementation considerations, as specified in the Scorecard, and directed the ICANN President and CEO, or his designee(s), to develop and submit to the Board a plan for the implementation, with the objective of completing and providing the plan to the community for consideration no later than six months after such Board action.
Whereas, a Plan for Implementation was submitted for public comment on 11 September 2019. Community feedback was also sought on the proposal to include implementation of CCT recommendations in ICANN's operating planning and budgeting process, as appropriate, allowing for appropriate prioritization within the context of all ICANN work. The call for feedback yielded a total of five comments; analysis and ICANN org responses to the input received can be found in the summary produced by ICANN org.
Resolved (2020.01.26.05), the Board directs the ICANN President and CEO, or his designee(s), to commence implementation of the accepted CCT-RT recommendations as proposed in the Plan for Implementation. Implementation work, where no significant incremental costs and resources are needed, is to begin as soon as possible. Any CCT recommendations addressed in the Plan for Implementation that require significant resources and budget, should be included into operational planning and budgeting processes, allowing for appropriate community consideration and prioritization, as applicable, of planned work.
Why is the Board addressing this issue?
As detailed in Article 1 of ICANN Bylaws, reviews are important accountability measures that are critical to maintaining a healthy multistakeholder model and to helping ICANN achieve its Mission. Reviews also contribute to ensuring that ICANN serves the public interest. The first Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice Review (CCT), initiated under the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC), is an important aspect of ICANN's commitment to continuous review and assessment of key areas.
The Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review Team (CCT-RT) submitted its Final Report and Recommendations to the ICANN Board of Directors on 8 September 2018.
On 1 March 2019, the ICANN Board took action on the Final Recommendations produced by the CCT-RT. Per the ICANN Bylaws, the ICANN Board carefully considered how to best address each of the recommendations, and decided on three categories of action: accepted, pending, and passing through to different parts of the community, as documented in a detailed scorecard accompanying the Board resolution.
Today, the Board is taking action to direct implementation of the accepted recommendations as outlined in the Plan for Implementation.
What is the proposal being considered?
ICANN org produced a Plan for Implementation in furtherance of Board resolution 2019.03.01.03 to: 1) accept CCT recommendations 1, 17, 21, 22, 30, 31, subject to costing and implementation considerations; and 2) direct ICANN "to develop and submit to the Board a plan for the implementation of the accepted recommendations.
The Plan for Implementation sets out the approach for implementation of accepted recommendations. It contains information such as a description of the activities, estimated duration, resource requirements (including funding source), dependencies, and other elements, where available and possible.
In addition to articulating milestones and steps leading to implementation, the Plan for Implementation informs, as much as possible, on anticipated costs and resources needed to complete implementation. It addresses how the resources allocated to specific recommendations support ICANN in serving its Mission, and to understand the balance of resources and prioritization needed in order to fund the work identified to meet the CCT-RT recommendations.
The Plan for Implementation was developed by ICANN org subject matter experts leading on topics of the six accepted recommendations.
Which stakeholders or others were consulted?
The Plan for Implementation was posted for public comment on 11 September 2019. Community feedback was also sought on the proposal to include implementation of CCT recommendations in the Operating Planning and Budgeting Process, allowing for appropriate prioritization within the broader context of all ICANN work. The call for feedback closed on 31 October and yielded a total of five contributions. As applicable, comments were addressed in the "Analysis" section of the Public Comment Summary Report.
Prior to releasing the Plan for Implementation, CCT-RT Implementation Shepherds4 were invited to join the Board Caucus Group dedicated to the CCT effort for an overview of the proposed path forward and plans to address the 1 March Board action on CCT Final Recommendations.
Are there fiscal impacts or ramifications on ICANN (strategic plan, operating plan, budget); the community; and/or the public?
As articulated in the Plan for Implementation, implementing these recommendations may in some instances require resources beyond what is allocated in the current budget. Accordingly, the Board resolution calls for those recommendations addressed in the Plan for Implementation that require significant resources and budget to be included into cycles of operational planning and budgeting.
Are there positive or negative community impacts?
Adopting the Plan for Implementation will allow ICANN org to begin implementing some of the recommendations developed by the community-led review team as soon as possible. It is anticipated that implementation of specific recommendations will require the community to participate in some consultations, as outlined in the Plan for Implementation. This could potentially affect community workload and resources.
Are there any security, stability or resiliency issues relating to the DNS?
This Board action is not expected to have a direct effect on security, stability or resiliency issues relating to the DNS.
Is this action within ICANN's Mission? How does it relate to the global public interest?
This action is within ICANN's Mission and mandate. It is considered in the public interest as it is a result of a key commitment entered into in 2009 within the Affirmation of Commitments, now embodied in the ICANN Bylaws. Reviews are an important and essential part of how ICANN upholds its commitments. The scope of this review is inherently tied to ICANN's core values of introduction and promotion of competition in the registration of domain names.
Is this either a defined policy process within ICANN's Supporting Organizations or ICANN's Organizational Administrative Function decision requiring public comment or not requiring public comment?
Public comment was received prior to Board consideration.