[council] Names Council Resolution
Vint and Stuart,
allow me to formally send you a copy of a resolution made at
yesterday's NC meeting.
Background
The NC has agreed a 2001 budget of USD 107,600 to be funded by
Constituencies. The history of Constituency fees collection is that the NC never
collects the full fees within the budget year. One constituency has informally
requested a fee reduction of 50% for 2001. A consequent proportionate increase
in fees from the other six is unlikely to be supported.
In addition the NC has budgeted an assumption of USD 120,000
voluntary funds for 2001. This is hoped to be achieved by a 1:1 matching of
sponsorship from Verisign. (It is a part of a maximum possible sum of USD
200,000 based on a USD100,000 offer subject to matching). A call for these
voluntary funds will start soon (once ICANN confirm their acceptance to act as
the administrator of such funds).
The total budget of USD 227,600 is intended to cover inter
alia the hiring of one professional staff to enable the DNSO to
perform as we would all like it to. The search for this person will start
now.
Conclusion: there is uncertainty surrounding both the
collection of funds from constituencies and from voluntary sources. That
uncertainty may delay recruitment of professional staff. That delay would impair
DNSO performance. An offer of interim funding from the ICANN Board would remove
uncertainty and the inherent delay.
Philip Sheppard
NC Chair
Resolution
Whereas,
There have been occasions where ICANN Staff publishes documents while
constituents are in transit on the way to meetings.
Whereas, this practice does not allow proper time for consultation and
comment,
particularly for non-native English speakers. Whereas,
there has been criticism from some Board members of the lack of input from
the DNSO on issues of substance,
Whereas, the NC can understand that the urgencies of the moment do not always allow
for long lead times but nevertheless DNSO input is actively sort by the
Board,
Whereas,
the 'bottom up' process of ICANN is substantially dependent on the
effective operation of the DNSO/NC, and the effective operation of the DNSO/NC
requires professional staff support,
Whereas,
the NC will be able to react quicker to tight Board deadlines with
professional staff support,
Whereas,
It is essential that the DNSO and the NC has the resources required to
facilitate consensus building and provide well considered advice to the Board
and to do this the support of professional and dedicated staff is critical to
ensuring that the NC is able to do its job.
Whereas, Versign has offered matching funding of $100,000 to allow the NC to hire
such professional staff,
The NC resolves that: 1. The NC encourages the Board and ICANN staff to ensure that
reasonable time is allowed in future for constituencies to consider issues
and to resolve differences;
2. The NC requests the Board to provide a $100,000 start-up fund for DNSO secretariat support. Proposed: Erica Roberts/Peter de Blanc
Seconded:Tony Harris |