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09 August 2019

Evolving the Governance of the Root Server System

COMMENT

Alan Greenberg

Fouad Bajwa

Bastiaan Goslings  

Carlos Reyes
carlos.reyes@icann.org

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Brief Overview

Purpose: This Public Comment proceeding seeks feedback for evolving the governance of the Root Server System (RSS), including a proposed community-driven process.

Current Status: On 3 May 2019, the ICANN Board approved a resolution to begin Public Comment on this topic.

Next Steps: ICANN org will prepare a summary report of the Public Comment proceeding for the consideration of the ICANN Board as it determines next steps.

Section I: Description and Explanation

Following the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) stewardship transition, the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) developed an initial framework to evolve the governance of the RSS. After three years of extensive work, the RSSAC published "RSSAC037: A Proposed Governance Model for the DNS Root Server System" (RSSAC037) in June 2018. RSSAC037 proposes five functions to provide governance, accountability, and transparency for the RSS and its Root Server Operators (RSOs). The RSSAC concurrently published "RSSAC038: RSSAC Advisory on a Proposed Governance Model for the DNS Root Server System" (RSSAC038). In RSSAC038, the RSSAC makes three recommendations for next steps to the ICANN Board.

As part of the ICANN Board's consideration of RSSAC037 and RSSAC038, ICANN org prepared a "Concept Paper on a Community-Driven Process to Develop a Final Model Based on RSSAC037" (Concept Paper). The Concept Paper proposes a governance model (Concept Model) based on RSSAC037. The Concept Model establishes three new groups: The Root Server System Governance Board, the Root Server System Standing Committee, and the Root Server Operator Review Panel. In addition to these groups, ICANN org would manage the Financial Function and Secretariat Function.

The Concept Paper also outlines a community-driven process to develop a final governance model for the RSS. This is in response to recommendation one from RSSAC038, which calls on the ICANN Board to "initiate a process to produce a final version of the Model for implementation based on RSSAC037." There are three phases in the community-driven process: Design, Consultation, and Implementation. During the implementation phase, there are two tracks. The Root Server System Governance Working Group (GWG) would lead the Structural Track to develop a final governance model, and ICANN org would lead the Administrative Track to plan for implementation of a final governance model. To launch this work, ICANN org has developed a draft charter and operating procedures for the GWG and a draft work plan for the GWG.

Section II: Background

Supporting the evolution of RSS governance contributes to the commitment of ICANN to strengthen the security, stability, and resiliency of the Domain Name System (DNS). It also enables direct interaction between the ICANN community and the RSOs. Furthermore, it ensures that global root service remains accountable and sustainable into the future.

Evolving the governance of the RSS will result in significant changes to the ICANN community and ICANN org. The community-driven process to develop a final governance model envisions considerable work and commitment of resources. Any budgetary and financial implications will be handled through ICANN processes that ensure accountability and transparency. Furthermore, the ICANN Board continues its evaluation and consideration of recommendations two and three from RSSAC038.

Section III: Relevant Resources

This Public Comment proceeding seeks feedback on RSSAC037, the Concept Paper, the draft charter and operating procedures for the GWG, and the draft work plan for the GWG. These documents provide a starting point for community discussions about evolving the governance of the RSS.

Section IV: Additional Information

Several other RSSAC publications provide background about the RSS, RSOs, and global root service as context for the work of evolving the governance of the RSS.

Additionally, the RSSAC published reports from the six workshops where it developed RSSAC037 and RSSAC038.

The RSSAC also regularly provides informational sessions about its mission, structure, and workand tutorial sessions about root server operations.

Section V: Reports

FINAL VERSION SUBMITTED (IF RATIFIED)

The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote. 


FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC

The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.


DRAFT SUBMITTED FOR DISCUSSION

The first draft submitted will be placed here before the call for comments begins. The Draft should be preceded by the name of the person submitting the draft and the date/time. If, during the discussion, the draft is revised, the older version(S) should be left in place and the new version along with a header line identifying the drafter and date/time should be placed above the older version(s), separated by a Horizontal Rule (available + Insert More Content control).

Draft submitted by Alan Greenberg on 21 July 2019:

This evolution of the governance of the Root Server System is arguably one of the most significant, if not the most significant, processes in the history of ICANN.

The RSSAC and those who contributed to RSSAC037 are to be congratulated as is the ICANN Board for its response currently under discussion.

The ALAC strongly supports the overall proposal and appreciates the opportunity to comment on it.

The ALAC offers two specific comments:

  • Section 4 of RSSAC037 discusses who the stakeholders of the RSS are. Absent from this list is the explicit mention of USERS (both individual as represented by At-Large and the rest of the users who rely on the RSS). Without those users, there would be no need for the RSS. The ultimate ICANN model must encompass this and users should be explicitly represented on the RGB (Root Server System Governance Board).
  • The financial aspects of this proposal will be key to its success. At a time when ICANN’s budgets are being subjected to significant constraint, the Concept Model will without doubt have a high and ongoing cost. It is unclear where the Board currently visualizes these funds will come from. Once cost estimates are established, there should be a study of possible sustainable funding options. As important as the RSS is, the new funding must not come at great cost to other Community and non-DNS industry based activity support by ICANN org.

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