Thank You to the Global Multistakeholder Community

Whereas, on 14 March 2014, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States Department of Commerce announced its intention to transition the stewardship of the IANA Functions to the global multistakeholder community.

Whereas, NTIA asked ICANN to convene global stakeholders to develop a proposal to transition the current role, played by NTIA, in the coordination of the Internet's domain name system (DNS). NTIA required that the proposal for transition must have broad community support and uphold the following principles:

Support and enhance the multistakeholder model;
Maintain the security, stability, and resiliency of the Internet DNS;
Meet the needs and expectation of the global customers and partners of the IANA services; and,
Maintain the openness of the Internet.
NTIA also stated it would not accept a proposal that replaces the NTIA role with a government-led or an inter-governmental organization solution.

Whereas, in the Board resolutions 2016.03.10.12-15 the ICANN Board resolved to accept the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group’s (ICG) IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal, reflecting he proposals developed by CRISP, IANA Plan and the CWG-Stewardship, and approve the transmittal of the Proposal to NTIA of the United States Department of Commerce in response to NTIA's 14 March 2014 announcement.

Whereas, the Board further resolved that the President and CEO, or his designee, was directed to plan for the implementation of the Proposal so that ICANN is operationally ready to implement in the event NTIA approves of the Proposal and the IANA Functions Contract expires.

Whereas, in its Board resolutions 2016.03.10.16-19, the ICANN Board resolved to accept the Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability) Work Stream 1 Report ("Report"), and approve the transmittal of the Report to NTIA to accompany the IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal developed by the ICG.

Whereas, the Board further resolved that the President and CEO, or his designee, is directed to plan for the implementation of the Report so that ICANN is operationally ready to implement in the event NTIA approves of the IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal and the IANA Functions Contract expires.

Whereas, on 27 May, the Board adopted resolution 2016.05.27.01-04, resolving that the New ICANN Bylaws will be deemed effective upon the expiration the IANA Functions Contract between ICANN and NTIA, and directed the President and CEO, or his designee, to plan for the implementation of the Bylaws so that ICANN is operationally ready to meet its obligations in the event NTIA approves of the IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal and the IANA Functions Contract expires.

Whereas, on 9 June NTIA informed ICANN that NTIA had completed its review of the IANA Stewardship Proposal along with the other US agencies, and determined that the proposal meets the criteria set out by NTIA in March 2014 when it announced its intent to transition NTIA”s stewardship of key Internet domain name functions to the global multistakeholder community. NTIA noted and outlined in their report that there was still some work to be done before the IANA functions stewardship transition could occur, and requested that ICANN provide NTIA with an implementation planning status report by August 12, 2016.

Whereas, on 12 August, ICANN provided NTIA with the implementation planning status report noting that: “ICANN, working with the multistakeholder community, confirms that all required IANA functions stewardship transition tasks specified in NTIA’s June 9, 2016 letter are complete, and all other tasks in support of the IANA stewardship transition are either in a final review stage or awaiting approval, which will be complete in advance of September 30, 2016 to allow the IANA functions contract to expire.”

Whereas, on 1 October, the NTIA advised ICANN and the global multistakeholder community that the IANA Functions contract had expired.

Resolved (2016.11.08.19), the Board expresses its deep appreciation for the tireless efforts of the global multistakeholder community, including the leadership of the various community-led groups contributing to the Proposals. The development of the coordinated Proposals across the global community, that met the criteria set out by NTIA, and the work to achieve implementation to allow for the contract to lapse on 30 September 2016, is unprecedented and serves as an historical record of the success of the work of the community to achieve a longstanding goal.

Resolved (2016.11.08.20), the Board expresses its deep appreciation to the US Department of Commerce, for standing by the long-standing commitment to end the IANA Functions contract, and for its dedication, and tireless efforts as a partner with ICANN and the community to achieving this historic goal.