NC resolution on Reform – adopted by the Names Council 1 August 2002

The following resolution was adopted with unanimity less one abstention.

Whereas the Names Council has produced a set of recommendations for ICANN evolution and reform;

Whereas, the ICANN Board at its Bucharest meeting in June 2002 resolved that the Board endorses the Evolution and Reform Committee (ERC) Blueprint for Reform, and described it as being broad outlines;

Whereas the Board instructed the ERC to oversee implementation with the participation of the ICANN community;

Whereas the Board resolved that further opportunities for strengthening ICANN's capacity to fulfill its mission should be utilized;

Whereas the Board instructed the ERC to take due account of certain fundamental issues:

• geographic and cultural diversity in all parts of ICANN structure,

• a policy development processes that enhances and promotes a transparent bottom-up process.

GNSO council

The Blueprint’s proposed two representatives per Constituency fails the Board’s test of geographic and cultural diversity within the constituency. With three representatives per constituency, the majority of ICANN regions ARE represented. With two, the majority of ICANN regions are NOT adequately represented.

The Blueprint’s proposed two representatives per Constituency fails the Board’s test of a bottom-up process. Experience has shown that three representatives improves the constituencies ability to share the workload of a council member, to be able to participate in task forces of the council, and to outreach to multiple regions, thus enhancing and promoting a transparent bottom-up process.

Without prejudice to future NC commentary in this area, the Names Council resolves therefore to recommend the following implementation of the Blueprint, without which ICANN will fail to take account of the above fundamental issues:

there should be three representatives per Constituency on the GNSO council.