Issues PDP

[Bart Boswinkel <R3H@xxxxxxx>]

Nominet UK, the registry for .uk domain names, welcomes the decision of
the ccNSO Council to consider initiating a ccPDP in order to review
Article IX of the ICANN bylaws.  We strongly believe that the bylaws
should be amended, in order to address the legitimate concerns of the
majority of ccTLD managers who currently feel unable to join the ccNSO.

We support the statement of CENTR, and in particular agree that the 
ccNSO
should be a forum for information sharing and exchange of best practice.
Above all, we support the principle of subsidiarity: that is 
determination
of the majority of issues at a local level.

We note that you have specifically asked not to receive drafting
suggestions at this stage.  In our view, this is a sensible approach 
which
will enable you to identify the key principles, leaving detailed 
drafting
to a later stage.  However, we would be more than happy to provide
drafting suggestions at the appropriate stage of the process.

We urge the PDP to focus on the following:

1. Making it totally clear that receipt of IANA services is in no way
contingent on joining, or continuing to be a member of the ccNSO
2. Clarifying and limiting the scope of the ccNSO,
3. Ensuring that no party (including ICANN's board) can make binding
policy for the ccNSO unless within scope and through the ccPDP
4. Ensuring that ccPDP'ed policies are only rejected by the ICANN board 
in
exceptional circumstances
5. Radically simplifying the ccPDP
6. Ensuring that the ccNSO membership are involved in any future changes
to the ccNSO bylaws.

Regards,
Lesley

Lesley Cowley
Chief Executive
Nominet UK
We welcome this initiative which we regard as a positive step in the
development of the ccNSO.