- Category: gTLDs
- Topic: New gTLD Program Committee
- Board meeting date: 23 June 2012
- Resolution number: 2012.06.23.17 - 2012.06.23.19
- URL for Board minutes/resolution: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-23jun12-en.htm#1.9
- Status: Completed
Summary
Board approves Judith Vazquez and Akram Atallah as members of the New gTLD Program Committee, and requests all members of the Committee reinforce their commitment to avoid conflicts of interest.
Text
Whereas, on 10 April 2012 the Board created the New gTLD Program Committee, to which it delegated all legal and decision making authority of the Board relating to the New gTLD Program (for the round of the Program, which commenced in January 2012 and for the related Applicant Guidebook that applies to this current round) as set forth in its Charter, which excludes those things that the Board is prohibited from delegating by law, or pursuant to Article XII, Section 2 of the ICANN Bylaws.
Whereas, Judith Vazquez previously had self-declared a conflict in relation to the New gTLD Program. Judith now confirms that the conflict has been removed and the Board Governance Committee's Subcommittee for Conflicts & Ethics accepts that confirmation.
Whereas, as of 1 July 2012, Akram Atallah will serve as ICANN's interim CEO and as a voting member of the Board during his service as CEO. Akram Atallah does not have a conflict of interest in relation to the New gTLD Program Committee.
Resolved (2012.06.23.17), Judith Vazquez is hereby approved as a member of the New gTLD Program Committee, effective immediately.
Resolved (2012.06.23.18), Akram Atallah is hereby approved as a member of the New gTLD Program Committee, for the period of 1 July 2012 through 30 September 2012.
Resolved (2012.06.23.19), all members of the New gTLD Program Committee reinforce their commitment to the 8 December 2011 Resolution of the Board (Resolution 2011.12.08.19) regarding Board member conflicts, and specifying in part: "Any and all Board members who approve any new gTLD application shall not take a contracted or employment position with any company sponsoring or in any way involved with that new gTLD for 12 months after the Board made the decision on the application."
Implementation Actions
- None
Rationale
The Board reaffirms its Rationale for Resolutions 2012.04.10.01-2012.04.10.04, stating in full: In order to have efficient meetings and take appropriate actions with respect to the New gTLD Program for the current round of the Program and as related to the Applicant Guidebook, the Board decided to create the "New gTLD Program Committee" in accordance with Article XII of the Bylaws and has delegated decision making authority to the Committee as it relates to the New gTLD Program for the current round of the Program which commenced in January 2012 and for the related Applicant Guidebook that applies to this current round.
Establishing this new Committee without conflicted members, and delegating to it decision making authority, will provide some distinct advantages. First, it will eliminate any uncertainty for conflict Board members with respect to attendance at Board meetings and workshops since the New gTLD Program topics can be dealt with at the Committee level. Second, it will allow for actions to be taken without a meeting by the committee. As the Board is aware, actions without a meeting cannot be taken unless done via electronic submission by unanimous consent; such unanimous consent cannot be achieved if just one Board member is conflicted. Third, it will provide the community with a transparent view into the Board's commitment to dealing with actual, potential or perceived conflicts.
This resolution should have a positive impact on the community and ICANN as a whole as the New gTLD Program Committee will be able to take actions relating to the New gTLD Program for the current round of the Program and as related to the Applicant Guidebook without any question of conflict arising.
No fiscal impact is anticipated as a result of this action and there will be no impact on the security, stability no resiliency of the domain name system.
Other Related Resolutions
- Resolution 2011.12.08.19, adopting new conflicts of interest rules as they relate to the New gTLD Program, available at: http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-08dec11-en.htm.
- Resolutions 2011.06.20.01, 2011.06.20.02, 2011.06.20.03, approving the New gTLD Program, available at: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-20jun11-en.htm#1
- Resolution 2012.04.10.01, establishing the New gTLD Program Committee, is available at: http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-10apr12-en.htm
- Other resolutions TBD
Additional Information
- The Conflicts of Interest Policy can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/committees/board-governance/coi/.
- Board Statements of Interest are available at http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/sois.
- The work of the New gTLD Program Committee is available at http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/new-gtld
- The resolution does not address funding for the items identified therein.
Explanatory text does not modify or override Resolutions. See Board Resolutions Page for more information.
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