Proposal to postpone the GNSO Review

[Donna Austin <donna.austin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

ARI Registry Services comments on proposal to postpone the GNSO Review

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the Structural Improvement 
Committees' proposals to postpone the GNSO Review. The SIC is considering this 
recommendation because there are two substantial, relevant activities that have 
commenced. They are the second Affirmation of Commitments (AoC) Accountability 
and Transparency Review<http://www.icann.org/en/about/aoc-review/atrt/2> 
(ATRT2) and ICANN's Strategic Planning 
Process<http://www.icann.org/en/about/planning/strategic-engagement>.

ARI Registry Services (ARI) supports the comments submitted by Google that the 
review should not be postponed. ARI particularly agrees with Google's 
assessment that the "...expansion of the TLD space has increased the number and 
variety of stakeholders participating in GNSO policy making. As a result, it is 
worth examining whether the current model meets the needs of a new generation 
of stakeholders and allows productive discussion and resolution of emerging 
issues".

ARI has previously provided 
comment<http://forum.icann.org/lists/rysg-charter-19sep12/msg00000.html> on the 
current inadequacies of the GNSO Structure in that it does not provide an 
avenue for back-end registry services providers (RSPs) to form a unique 
constituency within the GNSO. As such, ARI believes that the GNSO Structure is 
unlikely to accommodate the anticipated new stream of stakeholders resulting 
from the expansion of the TLD space. The GNSO Review will be an important 
vehicle for considering and addressing this issue.

ARI does not believe that the work being undertaken by the ATRT 2 in assessing 
the policy development process or the Strategic Planning process will address 
this issue in any substantive way. Therefore it is important that the GNSO 
Review process proceeds as scheduled.

I acknowledge that these comments are being provided after the close of the 
reply period, nevertheless, we hope that they will be considered.

Regards

Donna

Donna Austin
Policy & Industry Affairs Officer
ARI Registry Services
Melbourne | Los Angeles
P +61 3 9866 1779
E donna.austin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:donna.austin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
W www.ariservices.com<http://www.ariservices.com>