ICANN board on new gTLD writes NCSG on INGO protection

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number (ICANN) board on new Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Programme Committee (NGPC) has written the Non-Commercial Users Stakeholder Group (NCSG) on the need for the protection of the International Non-Government Organisation (INGO) identifiers in all gTLDs, reports ITRealms.

The letter from the NGPC regarding protection of IGO-INGO identifiers in all gTLDs, sighted by ITRealms dated June 16, 2014 and addressed to Jonathan by the chairperson of the Board New Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Programme Committee, Cherine Chalaby, dated June 16, 2014, said it was to provide an update on the ongoing work in response to the GNSO policy recommendations regarding Protection of IGO-INGO Identifiers in all gTLDs and the advice from the Government Advisory Council (GAC) in its Buenos Aires Communiqué addressing the same topic.

ITRealms reports that on 30 April 2014, the ICANN board adopted the GNSO Council’s policy recommendations on IGO-INGO protections that were not inconsistent with the GAC’s advice, and requested additional time to consider the remaining policy recommendations that are inconsistent with the GAC’s advice on the same topic.

“The Board committed to facilitate discussions among the relevant parties to reconcile any remaining differences between the policy recommendations and the GAC advice on the topic, and previously tasked the NGPC to help with this process,” Chalaby said.

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Pix: Cherine Chalaby, NGPC chairman

Rafik Dammak wins NCSG chairmanship

ITRealms:

The 2013 annual election of the Noncommercial Stakeholders Group (NCSG) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) closed Monday, October 14, 2013, with emergence of Rafik Dammak as the new chairman of the group.

Also elected as NCSG Representatives to the Generic Name Supporting Organisation (GNSO) Council include Wolfgang Kleinwachter, Avri Doria, and Amr Elsadr.

Confirming this to ITRealms, the outgoing chair of NCSG, Ms Robin Gross, said that the newly elected chairman is expected to stay in office for a one-year term, while the three representatives to GNSO would be in office for a two-year term each.

It was further gathered by ITRealms that Rafik’s emergence came with 176 votes, whereas Wolfgang got 141, Avri got 140 and Amr has 96 respectively.

However, information available to ITRealms shows that total ballots cast were 147, while 126 were the actual votes counted after exclusion of duplications with 74 members could not vote.

With its charter approved in 2011, NCSG represents through its elected representatives and its constituencies, the interests and concerns of noncommercial registrants and noncommercial Internet users of generic Top-level Domains (gTLDs).

 
Thus, providing a voice and representation in ICANN processes to non-profit organizations that serve noncommercial interests; nonprofit services such as education, philanthropies, consumer protection, community organizing, promotion of the arts, public interest policy advocacy, children's welfare, religion, scientific research, and human rights; public interest software concerns; families or individuals who register domain names for noncommercial personal use; and Internet users who are primarily concerned with the noncommercial, public interest aspects of domain name policy.

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Pix: Rafik Dammak

Non-Commercial group gears-up for Durban'13

The Non-Commercial Stakeholders Group (NCSG) has advanced plans for its meeting scheduled for forthcoming Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) public session in Durban, South Africa, between July 14-19, 2013.

Chairperson of the group, Robin Gross confirmed that they have planned to meet in Durban alongside remote participants and those attending physically, adding that NCSG meeting holds on Tuesday, July 16 this year.

A draft programme sighted by ITRealms provisions have been made for members who would like to dial-in to the meeting and remote participation via Adobe Connect online software.

According to the draft agenda, some of the key issues for NCSG in Durban comprised of examining the protection of multi-stakeholder model for Internet governance; Beijing Communiqué of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC);

Also on the agenda as disclosed by Robin Gross, are the “Accountability Transparency Review Team, WHOIS - Privacy Issues and others such as Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs); Policy v. Implementation.”

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