ICANN’s New Bylaws Draft Open For Public Comment Until May 21

Purpose: This Public Comment period seeks community input on the Draft New ICANN Bylaws developed to reflect the recommendations contained in the proposals by the IANA Stewardship Transition Coordination Group (ICG) and Cross Community Working Group on Enhancing ICANN Accountability (CCWG-Accountability) as provided to the ICANN Board on 10 March 2016 and transmitted to NTIA. (See Resolutions 2016.03.10.12-15 and 2016.03.10.16-19)

Current Status: The new ICANN Bylaws have been drafted in collaboration by the ICANN legal team and the external counsels to the CCWG-Accountability and Cross Community Working Group Names (CWG-Stewardship), including review periods by all of the involved community groups and the ICANN Board. The legal teams support that the Draft New ICANN Bylaws are consistent with the community proposals relating to the IANA Stewardship Transition

Next Steps: The Draft New ICANN Bylaws are out for a 30-day public comment from 21 April – 21 May to allow any interested party to review and provide feedback on the Bylaws. This timeline allows for comments to be analyzed and incorporated in time for the ICANN Board to consider adoption of the New ICANN Bylaws on or about 27 May 2016 adoption of the Bylaws by the ICANN Board. Once New ICANN Bylaws have been adopted, ICANN will notify NTIA. NTIA has stated that it needs to see that changes to the Bylaws have been adopted sufficient to implement the Transition Proposals before NTIA can complete its review of the Transition Proposals. Once adopted, the Bylaws are expected to into effect in the event NTIA approves of the IANA Stewardship Transition Proposal and the IANA Functions Contract expires.

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