Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Review
The Board took action on 21 June 2021 to defer the Third Review of the Generic Names Supporting Organization. See the Board resolution here.
GNSO Review Wiki Workspace Page Find the latest status updates, recordings of past meetings, and opportunities to participate |
Introduction to Reviews Learn more about Reviews, their purpose and process for conducting and opportunities to participate |
The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) is a policy-development body which is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains (gTLDs). For more information on the GNSO, click here.
GNSO Organizational Review
The goal of the review, to be undertaken pursuant to such criteria and standards as the Board shall direct, shall be to determine (i) whether that organization, council or committee has a continuing purpose in the ICANN structure, (ii) if so, whether any change in structure or operations is desirable to improve its effectiveness and (iii) whether that organization, council or committee is accountable to its constituencies, stakeholder groups, organizations and other stakeholders.
These periodic reviews shall be conducted no less frequently than every five years, based on feasibility as determined by the Board. Each five-year cycle will be computed from the moment of the reception by the Board of the final report of the relevant review Working Group.
The first GNSO Review commenced in 2008 and concluded in 2012. The second GNSO Review commenced in 2014 and implementation of the recommendations in the independent reviewer’s report is expected to conclude in 2019.
The graphic below illustrates phases and status of each review - a indicates that all activities within a given phase have been completed. The chart that follows the graphic provides further details of key activities and milestones within each phase – you can view these details by clicking on each of the phases in the graphic. The table also contains links to relevant documents.
Phase | Activity | Description | Start Date | Documents |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plan Review | Appointment of review team members | Appointment of review team members | 1 Jan 2014 | |
Terms of Reference | Document outlining the scope of work adopted by the Board | 1 Jan 2014 | ||
RFP for Independent Evaluator | Independent Expert Request for Proposals announcement | 23 Apr 2014 | ||
Conduct Review | Selection of Independent Consultant | Announcement of selection of independent consultant | 23 Jun 2014 | |
Draft Report of Independent Consultant | Westlake Governance published its Draft Report | 1 Jun 2015 | ||
Public comment on Independent Consultant’s Draft Report | Public comment on recommendations on Westlake Governance’s Draft Report | 1 Jun 2015 | ||
Final Report of Westlake Governance | Final Report of Independent Examiner, Westlake Governance, on GNSO Review (translations of Executive Summary available) | 15 Sep 2015 | ||
Final Report Correction | Final Report Correction to Recommendation 1 issued by Westlake Governance | 5 Oct 2015 | ||
GNSO Council action | GNSO Council adopts GNSO Review Recommendations Feasibility and Prioritization | 14 Apr 2016 | ||
OEC accepts Final Report | OEC agreed to make the recommendation to the Board to accept the Final Report of the independent examiner and to adopt the recommendations as recommended by the GNSO Review Working Party, including the modification of the GNSO Council. | 15 May 2016 | ||
Board receipt and action on the Final Report | Board receipt and action on the Final Report | 25 Jun 2016 | ||
Plan Implementation | GNSO Council action | GNSO Council adopts draft Charter for Implementation Working Group | 11 Jul 2016 | |
Call for Volunteers | Call for Volunteers: GNSO Review Working Group responsible for developing an implementation plan | 27 Jul 2016 | ||
Implement Improvements | Latest details of implementation | Information available on the community wiki | 1 Sep 2016 | |
GNSO Review Recommendations Implementation Plan | GNSO Review Recommendations Implementation Plan | 21 Nov 2016 | ||
GNSO Council Adoption of Implementation Plan | GNSO Council Resolution Adopting the GNSO Review Implementation Plan | 15 Dec 2016 | ||
Implementation Plan Accepted by the Board | Implementation plan accepted by the Board and directs the Working Group to provide updates to the OEC every six months | 3 Feb 2017 | ||
GNSO2 Review Implementation Final Report | GNSO2 Review Implementation Final Report | 30 Jul 2018 | ||
Board Accepts Implementation Final Report | Acceptance of GNSO2 Review Working Group's Implementation Final Report | 27 Jan 2019 | ||
Standard Operating Procedures | Deferral of Third GNSO Review | Deferral of the third Generic Names Supporting Organizational Review (GNSO3) | 21 Jun 2021 |