Business Constituency Comments on Potential Postponement of GNSO Review

[Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Comments of ICANN's Business Constituency (BC) regarding Potential Postponement 
of the GNSO Review.

As business users of the Internet, we depend upon its stability, security, 
resiliency, and interoperability in order to conduct commerce online. An 
effective Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) plays a critical role in 
ensuring thatICANN can support the stability, security, resiliency, and 
interoperability of the Internet. As such, ICANN's bylaws require that a 
periodic review of theperformance of each supporting organization, including 
the GNSO, be conducted every five years.

The GNSO review required in ICANN's bylaws should not be postponed, for three 
principal reasons:

First, the timeline for the GNSO review is mandated by ICANN's bylaws. The 
bylaws should be carefully considered, respected, and amended as necessary. 
Ignoring or temporarily suspending compliance with the bylaws suggests that ad 
hoc processes are appropriate, undermining the community's confidence in its 
key structural documents.

Second, much has changed since the last GNSO review. More people than ever 
before rely on the Internet as a platform for innovation and commerce; indeed, 
the Internet has become an indispensable platform for many businesses.  The new 
gTLD program has blurred the lines between the discrete “silo” constituencies 
and bifurcated houses (contracted and non-) reflected in that last GNSO review 
and restructuring, making it more imperative that a review process be started 
sooner rather than later.  Thus, the actions of the GNSO impact vastly more 
constituents than they did in 2006, when the last GNSO review was commenced.

Third, the review has historically taken many years to implement. Given that we 
may face yet another lengthy review process, we encourage the Board and the 
GNSO community to avoid further delays in commencing the current round.

Accordingly, the Business Constituency urges that the Structural Improvements 
Committee commence the GNSO review without delay. Doing so will both strengthen 
confidence in ICANN's bylaws and allow the GNSO community to consider the 
impact of changes that have occurred since 2006.

--

Aparna Sridhar and Bill Smith prepared the draft and it was properly approved 
by BC membership on 6-Sep-2013

Steve DelBianco
Vice chair for policy coordination
ICANN Business Constituency