Final version ETSI contribution on ICANN Restructuring

[azucena.hernandezperez@telefonica.es]

Dear PSO PC colleagues,

Last 21st December 2001, I sent for your consideration the ETSI
contribution on ICANN Restructuring. In the meantime some small changes
have been suggested by ETSI members.
I enclose  the last version.
According to the decision taken in our last teleconference, ETSI will
submit this contribution directly to the ICANN Restructuring Ad Hoc group
and to Mr Lynn clearly indicating that this is a document only supported by
ETSI.
Regardless of my previous words, I would appreciate your comments on the
attachment and would take them into account if they reach me before next
Friday the 25th January when I plan to make the final submission on behalf
of ETSI.
Kind regards,
Azucena
(See attached file: ETSI contribution to ICANN restructuring.htm)
*********************************************************
Azucena Hernandez
Telefonica de Espaņa
 Desarrollo de Red
Tel: +34 91 5846842
Fax: +34 91 5846843
GSM: +34 609425506
E-Mail: azucena.hernandezperez@telefonica.es
***********************************************************

Title: ETSI comments on ICANN restructuring

22.1.2002

ETSI contribution on ICANN restructuring

ETSI supports the present general structure of ICANN, which includes:

• a Board of Directors holding the highest decision power
• a manageable number of Supporting Organizations (e.g. up to 6)
• an unlimited number of advisory committees, task groups,.......either permanent or temporary as required.
• a CEO and related staff

With regards to the ICANN Board, ETSI considers:

• their members should be elected by the Supporting Organizations
• each Supporting Organization should have the same number of seats in the Board
• the period of service of the Board members should be 3 years with one further consecutive term only
• the size of the Board should be a number between 12 and 18 seats (flexible according to the number of Supporting Organizations)

With regards to the Supporting Organizations, ETSI considers that they are the backbone of the work in ICANN.

Their task must therefore be to comment and advise the ICANN Board and other supporting organisations in all the aspects related to the mission, scope and activities of the ICANN as much as to make public opinions and positions in all Internet related issues somehow related to the ICANN scope, for the benefit and knowledge of the ICANN community. This public positions may include comments, advises and liaisons to Internet related organizations inside or outside the ICANN structure, such as IETF, W3C, ISOC, IPv6 Forum,.......

Due to the focal role of the Supporting Organisations and since they represent the various interest groups of the internet players , namely users , operators, service providers, content providers, institutions etc. their number and set up must be carefully balanced.

ETSI considers that a maximum number of 6 SOs is a reasonable picture for the medium/long term and therefore, ETSI sees no problem in the launch of two new SOs to be added to the three presently active if the ICANN community so wishes. These two new SOs should be:

• ALSO (At Large Supporting Organization) to represent the Internet Users
• ccTLD SO to specifically address the ccTLD Registries if it is demonstrated that they can not be dealt with by the existing DNSO.

If these two new SOs are created, then each should designate 3 members to the ICANN Board in equal basis to the three existing SOs.

ETSI is aware of the special nature of the ALSO and therefore is able to accept an extension of the number of seats in the ICANN Board elected by ALSO to a maximum of 6 providing that:

• this extension is considered temporary
• the extension is cancelled if a 6^th SO needs to be launched in order to keep the number of Board members up to 18.

Regarding the internal structure of ALSO, its membership and voting procedures, ETSI's views are as follows:

• the main method to become member of ALSO should require to be an individual member of an existing recognised national, regional or international User Association not linked to commercial businesses.
• alternative methods maybe accepted on a case by case basis if no User Associations are established in the geographical area of the interested potential ALSO member
• ALSO members must be clearly identified, located and reachable (legal name, real address, additional reference such as bank account, internet site or any other type)
• candidates to hold positions, either in the ALSO Council or in the ICANN Board representing ALSO, should be respectable individuals having no criminal register and no relation to any criminal organisation under the law of the country/region they register for.
• voting procedures must ensure that every ALSO member can vote but only once.

With regards to the ICANN Advisory Committees, Task Groups, ....., ETSI supports its existence as a tool to get proper input from specific communities (eg. Governments in GAC) and to address identified urgent tasks (e.g. New TLDs, IDN, ....). ETSI is particularly supportive of those special committees dealing with matters with technical impact such as the IDN. Those committees should work in close co-operation with the related Supporting Organizations.

As for the ICANN Working Procedures, ETSI considers:

• the present frequency of ICANN meetings (3 per year) should be kept
• the present policy of holding ICANN meetings in different regions by rotation should be kept
• the possibility of organising ICANN meetings in a distributed manner with meeting rooms in the 5 regions all connected by high quality videoconference should be explored in order to facilitate the participation of the Internet community at the minimum cost.
• the present use of English as the working language of ICANN should be kept. The provision of translation facilities either in meetings or in documents, website,....should be allowed providing that its associated costs are not covered by ICANN budget but by direct funding of the interested communities.

Finally and with regards to the CEO and ICANN staff, ETSI supports the following principles:

• the ICANN staff should consist of highly qualified individuals within a dynamic and low hierarchical internal structure with the minimum required size,
• ICANN staff should increase the automation of activities.
• ICANN staff should consist of individuals with different nationalities.
• ICANN CEO should provide to the ICANN Board yearly progress reports on ICANN staff activities such as IANA operation, technical services,.....
• ICANN CEO should submit to the ICANN Board proposals concerning the evolution of the currently signed MoU.