2002 Evolution and Reform Process: Difference between revisions

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==Background==

ICANN was incorporated in 1998, and entered into a [[Memorandum of Understanding]] with the Department of Commerce in November of that year to begin a joint project to manage [[The Domain Name System|the domain name system]] in a way that promoted the principles of stability, competition, private, bottom-up coordination, and representation of all views among the global and diverse community of Internet users and functions.<ref name="98mou">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/icann-mou-1998-11-25-en Memorandum of Understanding], November 25, 1998</ref>

===Initial Structure and Growth===

In March 1999, ICANN amended its [[ICANN Bylaws|bylaws]] to establish a new supporting organization, the [[Domain Names Supporting Organization]] (DNSO).<ref name="99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-03-31-en ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended March 31, 1999</ref> As amended, the bylaws contemplated the following structure of ICANN and its SOs and ACs:

* Three Supporting Organizations: Address Supporting Organization (ASO); Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO); and Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO).

* Four Advisory Committees: Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC); Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC); an Advisory Committee on Membership (until such time as the board established rules for At-Large director seats on the board); and an Advisory Committee on Independent Review (until such time as the board adopted procedures for independent review).

In the March 1999 amended bylaws, only the DNSO had defined procedures established for its operation. The ASO and the PSO sections of the bylaws were reserved.<ref name="99bylaws" /> ICANN and the PSO signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 1999,<ref name="psomou">[https://archive.icann.org/en/pso/pso-mou.htm ICANN.org Archive - Memorandum of Understanding with the PSO], July 14, 1999</ref> amended bylaws of August 26, 1999, included procedural and operational guidelines for the PSO.<ref name="aug99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-08-26-en#VI-C ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended August 26, 1999</ref> In October 1999, the three existing regional internet registries - [[RIPE NCC]], [[APNIC]], and [[ARIN]] - entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN as well, resulting in the creation of the ASO.<ref>[https://aso.icann.org/documents/historical-documents/memorandum-of-understanding-1999/ ICANN.org Archive - Memorandum of Understanding with the ASO], October 19, 1999</ref> The addition of the ASO to the bylaws occurred at the end of October.<ref name="oct99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-10-29-en#VI-A ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended October 29, 1999</ref>

===Perceived Need for Reform===

In November 2001, the [[ICANN Board]] created a Committee on Restructuring to investigate possible reforms to ICANN's structure and operations.<ref name="restructure">[https://features.icann.org/2001-11-15-restructuring-committee ICANN.org Archive - Resolution of the Board], November 15, 2001</ref> The resolution forming the committee also instructed the ICANN President (at the time, [[Stuart Lynn|M. Stuart Lynn]]) "to take such steps as he deems appropriate to bring to the Board for its review and approval recommendations for how best to reaffirm and clarify the nature and scope of ICANN's limited mission."<ref name="restructure" /> The board cited "ongoing considerable discussion in the ICANN community, including a number of the DNSO constituencies, about the desirability of possible changes in the structure of ICANN, including consideration of possible new Supporting Organizations and changes in the composition of the ICANN Board;" as well as the fact that "ongoing evaluation of the [[At-Large Study Committee|ALSC]] Final Report also implicates issues of ICANN structure and Board composition" as factors in taking these actions.<ref name="restructure" />

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ==Background==
+ICANN was incorporated in 1998, and entered into a [[Memorandum of Understanding]] with the Department of Commerce in November of that year to begin a joint project to manage [[The Domain Name System|the domain name system]] in a way that promoted the principles of stability, competition, private, bottom-up coordination, and representation of all views among the global and diverse community of Internet users and functions.<ref name="98mou">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/icann-mou-1998-11-25-en Memorandum of Understanding], November 25, 1998</ref>
+===Initial Structure and Growth===
+In March 1999, ICANN amended its [[ICANN Bylaws|bylaws]] to establish a new supporting organization, the [[Domain Names Supporting Organization]] (DNSO).<ref name="99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-03-31-en ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended March 31, 1999</ref> As amended, the bylaws contemplated the following structure of ICANN and its SOs and ACs:
+* Three Supporting Organizations: Address Supporting Organization (ASO); Domain Name Supporting Organization (DNSO); and Protocol Supporting Organization (PSO).
+* Four Advisory Committees: Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC); Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC); an Advisory Committee on Membership (until such time as the board established rules for At-Large director seats on the board); and an Advisory Committee on Independent Review (until such time as the board adopted procedures for independent review).
+In the March 1999 amended bylaws, only the DNSO had defined procedures established for its operation. The ASO and the PSO sections of the bylaws were reserved.<ref name="99bylaws" /> ICANN and the PSO signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 1999,<ref name="psomou">[https://archive.icann.org/en/pso/pso-mou.htm ICANN.org Archive - Memorandum of Understanding with the PSO], July 14, 1999</ref> amended bylaws of August 26, 1999, included procedural and operational guidelines for the PSO.<ref name="aug99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-08-26-en#VI-C ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended August 26, 1999</ref> In October 1999, the three existing regional internet registries - [[RIPE NCC]], [[APNIC]], and [[ARIN]] - entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with ICANN as well, resulting in the creation of the ASO.<ref>[https://aso.icann.org/documents/historical-documents/memorandum-of-understanding-1999/ ICANN.org Archive - Memorandum of Understanding with the ASO], October 19, 1999</ref> The addition of the ASO to the bylaws occurred at the end of October.<ref name="oct99bylaws">[https://www.icann.org/resources/unthemed-pages/bylaws-1999-10-29-en#VI-A ICANN.org Archive - ICANN Bylaws], as amended October 29, 1999</ref>
+===Perceived Need for Reform===
 In November 2001, the [[ICANN Board]] created a Committee on Restructuring to investigate possible reforms to ICANN's structure and operations.<ref name="restructure">[https://features.icann.org/2001-11-15-restructuring-committee ICANN.org Archive - Resolution of the Board], November 15, 2001</ref> The resolution forming the committee also instructed the ICANN President (at the time, [[Stuart Lynn|M. Stuart Lynn]]) "to take such steps as he deems appropriate to bring to the Board for its review and approval recommendations for how best to reaffirm and clarify the nature and scope of ICANN's limited mission."<ref name="restructure" /> The board cited "ongoing considerable discussion in the ICANN community, including a number of the DNSO constituencies, about the desirability of possible changes in the structure of ICANN, including consideration of possible new Supporting Organizations and changes in the composition of the ICANN Board;" as well as the fact that "ongoing evaluation of the [[At-Large Study Committee|ALSC]] Final Report also implicates issues of ICANN structure and Board composition" as factors in taking these actions.<ref name="restructure" />