Resolution of the ICANN Board
Topic:
Reconsideration Request 13-1
Resolution Number:
2013.05.18.NG02 – 2013.05.18.NG03
Resolution Text:
Whereas, Ummah’s Digital, Ltd.’s (“Ummah”) Reconsideration Request, Request 13-1, sought reconsideration of the staff conclusion that the Ummah gTLD application “is ineligible for further review under the New gTLD Program,” which was based on the Support Applicant Review Panel (SARP) determination that Ummah’s application did not meet the criteria for financial assistance.
Whereas, the BGC recommended that Reconsideration Request 13-1 be denied because Ummah has not stated proper grounds for reconsideration, and Ummah’s stay request fails to satisfy the Bylaws’ requirements for a stay.
Whereas, the BGC noted that “Ummah raises some interesting issues in its Request and suggests that the Board direct that the concerns raised in Ummah’s Request be included in a review of the Applicant Support Program so that the design of future mechanisms to provide financial assistance and support in the New gTLD Program can benefit from the experiences within this first round.”
Resolved (2013.05.18.NG02), the New gTLD Program Committee adopts the recommendation of the BGC that Reconsideration Request 13-1 be denied on the basis that Ummah has not stated proper grounds for reconsideration and that Ummah’s stay request fails to satisfy the Bylaws’ requirements for a stay.
Resolved (2013.05.18.NG03), the Board directs the President and CEO to include the concerns raised in Ummah’s Reconsideration Request in the review of the Applicant Support Program so that the design of future mechanisms to provide financial assistance and support in the New gTLD Program can benefit from the experiences within this first round.
Rationale for Resolution:
In July 2009, as part of the comprehensive GNSO Improvements program, the ICANN Board approved the formal Charters of four new GNSO Stakeholder Groups (see ICANN Board Resolution 2009.30.07.09).
ICANN’s Bylaws at the time Reconsideration Request 13-1 was filed, called for the Board Governance Committee to evaluate and make recommendations to the Board with respect to Reconsideration Requests. See Article IV, section 3 of the Bylaws. The New gTLD Program Committee, bestowed with the powers of the Board in this instance, has reviewed and thoroughly considered the BGC’s recommendation with respect to Reconsideration Request 13-1 and finds the analysis sound. The full BGC Recommendation, which includes the reasons for recommending that the Reconsideration Request be denied can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/governance/reconsideration
Having a Reconsideration process set out in ICANN’s Bylaws positively affects ICANN’s transparency and accountability. It provides an avenue for the community to ensure that staff and the Board are acting in accordance with ICANN's policies, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.
To assure that ICANN continues to serve the global public interest by ensuring worldwide accessibility to the Internet and opportunities for operating a registry, ICANN will include the issues raised in Ummah’s Request in its review of the Program so that the design of future mechanisms to provide financial assistance and support in the New gTLD Program can benefit from the experiences within this first round.
Adopting the BGC's recommendation has no financial impact on ICANN and will not negatively impact the systemic security, stability and resiliency of the domain name system.
This is an Organizational Administrative Function not requiring public comment.