[bc-gnso] Policy calendar for 10-Jan-2012 BC member call

[Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here is the latest BC policy calendar, for use during 10-Jan-2012 BC member 
call.
Channel 1. BC participation in ICANN Public Comment process:
ICANN Public Comment page is at http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/

1. New gTLD Applicant Support Program: Financial Assistance   (10-Jan)

2. Preliminary GNSO Issue Report on RAA Amendments    (13-Jan)

3. IDN Variant Issues Project: Draft Integrated Issues Report  (30-Jan)

4. Initial Report on Universal Acceptance of IDN TLDs    (7-Feb)

5. WHOIS Policy Review Team (AoC) Draft Report    (18-Mar)

Note: BC members are encouraged to submit individual / company comments.  Based 
on member interest, the BC selects topics on which to submit official positions.
Channel 2. Support for discussion and votes of our representatives on GNSO 
Council
GNSO Project Status available at 
https://www.icann.org/en/processes/gnso/current-issues.html
<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/agenda+17+November+2011>Agenda<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/agenda+19+January+2012>
 and 
<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/Motions+17+November+2011>
 
motions<https://community.icann.org/display/gnsocouncilmeetings/Motions+19+January+2012>
 for 19-Jan-2012 GNSO Council teleconference were not yet published as of 9-Jan.

John figures we'll see motions on Outreach, thick Whois, and perhaps 
cross-community working groups



Channel 3. Supporting discussion and voting on policy matters before the 
Commercial Stakeholders Group (CSG)
Ron Andruff, CSG Liaison, and Marilyn Cade (alternate)


Channel 4. BC statements and responses during public meetings (outreach events, 
public forum, etc.)
Affirmation review team for Whois   (Susan Kawaguchi, Lynn Goodendorf, Bill 
Smith)
Affirmation review team for SSR  (Security, Stability, & Resilience)    (Jeff 
Brueggeman)

Remaining implementation work for gTLD expansion plan, incl BC letter to ICANN 
and possible follow-up on specific improvement recommendations:

ICANN's board demonstrated last week that it will continue to direct changes in 
implementation details for new gTLDs. (summary and briefing documents of the 
5-Jan Informational Board meeting here<http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/> ).  
The board made it clear that it expects "remaining implementation work":

The Board held an informational call with staff regarding the planning for the 
opening of the New gTLD Program application window on 12 January 2012.  … The 
Staff and the Board discussed (1) operational readiness for the New gTLD 
Program, including the posting of a new version of the Applicant Guidebook 
reflecting the interim amendments approved by the Board; (2) the status of 
plans for timely execution of the GAC requests regarding the Early Warning, 
application batching process, trademark clearinghouse procedures, planning for 
a second round, and applicant support; (3) providing responses to recent 
correspondence regarding the New gTLD Program; and (4) next steps in providing 
the Board further information on remaining implementation work.

In particular, briefing document 4 
(here<http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/board-briefing-materials-4-05jan12-en.pdf>)
 describes ongoing work on implementing RPMs:

TM Clearinghouse Process Development: This work focuses on implementing the new 
rights protection mechanisms that were agreed on during the new gTLD 
discussions. An invitation for volunteers from the community to engage with 
ICANN in building out the clearinghouse processes resulted in a group of over 
50 volunteers. This group (Implementation Assistance Group, IAG) began meetings 
in November and is working through a number of issues from both process and 
technical standpoints.

Seems to me there are opportunities to press for improvements that advance 
established BC positions — without delaying the gTLD application process.