The ICANN Cross Community Working Group prepared a proposal to transfer control functions over DNS root system from the U.S. government to the Internet community. This was initiated by the US National Telecommunications and Information administration (NTIA) within Department of Commerce this spring. The Cross Community Working Group of 119 members presented two options for a transfer. The first one is not very detailed since it offers to transfer control functions directly to ICANN corporation. The performance will be controlled through the existing ICANN mechanisms of accountability.
The second option involves a creation of a new organization that will be run by representatives of Internet community and will oversee ICANN’s actions in managing the domain system. Authors of the suggestions highlight that they are talking about a non-profit with a minimum number of employees. Thus, the Cross Community Working Groups tries to avoid what many observers fear – creating “something ICANN-like to oversee ICANN”.
The new company for now named “Contract Co” will take over the responsibilities of NTIA in control over the DNS root system management. The contract with the new company will be developed by a Multistakeholder Review Team. It will also supervise the compliance. MRT will be comprised by people of all communities interests of which ICANN represents. How this committee is to be formed is still unclear and will most likely be a subject of heated discussions, since very different groups with often conflicting interests will try to be the ones most represented.
Also a new Customer Standing Panel is to be established, comprising representatives of gTLD and ccTLD registries, since they are the main “customers” of DNS root system. It will relay the concerns of the registries to the Multistakeholder Review Team. That way it will ensure ICANN’s accountability to them.
Finally, they offer to create an Independent Appeals Panel. Any complaints of any decisions concerning management of DNS root system will be filed here. It obviously includes decisions of delegation of domains or withdrawal from delegation.
The proposal is published on ICANN’s webpage, comments are welcomed before December 22. Final proposal to the U.S. government concerning the transfer of control functions over DNS root system should be ready by the summer of the following year.
