USCIB filed comments on the first draft of ICANN’s (Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers) Cross-Community Working Group (CCWG) on Enhancing ICANN Accountability proposed Accountability Enhancements on Wednesday, June 3. These comments represented an important cross-sectoral and cross-community consensus of USCIB’s member companies.
Overall, USCIB members applauded the work of the CCWG in developing accountability mechanisms that will replace the “back stop” function currently provided by the contract between the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and ICANN concerning stewardship of the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) functions. That contract is set to expire on September 30, 2015, but likely will be extended for a limited period to give the ICANN community additional time needed to thoughtfully develop a sound transition plan. In particular, USCIB supported elements of the draft proposal that would give the ICANN multistakeholder community power to reject a budget or strategic plan as well as recall Board members if deemed necessary. USCIB further urged inclusion of a new Bylaw aimed at preventing government capture or undue ICANN influence on public policies unrelated to ICANN’s core mission.
“A spirit of cooperation prevailed as USCIB members across the ICT sector as well as the contracted and non-contracted houses of ICANN worked hard to reach a consensus ultimately aimed at ‘getting the transition right’,” said Barbara Wanner, USCIB’s vice president for ICT policy.
