Changes

The '''Non-Commercial Users Constituency''' ('''NCUC''') is a member of the [[NCSG|Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group]] (NCSG) of [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO|Generic Names Supporting Organization]] (GNSO) constituted by Article XX, Section of ICANN's Bylaws. Its main objective is to represent the interests and positions of individuals and the civil society involved in non-commercial Internet activities such as education, promotion of arts, religion, children's welfare, scientific research and others using internet as a global communication method.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm#XX-5 ICANN Bylaws]</ref> The NCUC was the original voice of non-commercial interests within [[ICANN]];<ref>[https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/ncsg_approved_charter NCSG Approved Charter]</ref> however, a major restructuring of the GNSO took place in 2008.<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/improvements/restructure-working-group-en.htm GNSO Improvements]</ref> The new structure allows for the number of [[Consituency|constituencies]] to constantly be in flux, while providing a constant voice through the [[SG|Stakeholder Groups]]. Thus, the NCUC was the predecessor of the NCSG, and is now a part of it.  

The '''Noncommercial Users Constituency''' ('''NCUC''') is a member of the [[NCSG|Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group]] (NCSG) of [[ICANN]]'s [[GNSO|Generic Names Supporting Organization]] (GNSO) constituted by Article XX, Section of ICANN's Bylaws.<ref>[http://www.ncuc.org www.ncuc.org]</ref> Its main objective is to represent the interests and positions of individuals and the civil society involved in non-commercial Internet activities such as education, promotion of arts, religion, children's welfare, scientific research, and others using internet as a global communication method.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm#XX-5 ICANN Bylaws]</ref> The NCUC was the original voice of non-commercial interests within [[ICANN]];<ref>[https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/ncsg_approved_charter NCSG Approved Charter]</ref> however, a major restructuring of the GNSO took place in 2008.<ref>[http://gnso.icann.org/en/improvements/restructure-working-group-en.htm GNSO Improvements]</ref> The new structure allows for the number of [[Consituency|constituencies]] to constantly be in flux, while providing a constant voice through the [[SG|Stakeholder Groups]]. Thus, the NCUC was the predecessor of the NCSG, and is now a part of it.  

==Organizational Structure==

==Organizational Structure==

==Groups==

==Groups==

The Non Commercial Users Constituency is composed of different groups such as the GNSO Operations Team, Interest-Group-Formation: Librarians,Scientific, Technical and Academic Experts,Post-Expiration Domain Name Drafting Team, Fund Raising Committee,Operations Steering Committee, Consumer Rights and many other groups.<ref>[http://ncdnhc.org/groups?page=2 Groups]</ref>

The Noncommercial Users Constituency is composed of different groups such as the GNSO Operations Team, Interest-Group-Formation: Librarians, Scientific, Technical, and Academic Experts, Post-Expiration Domain Name Drafting Team, Fundraising Committee, Operations Steering Committee, Consumer Rights, and many other groups.<ref>[http://ncdnhc.org/groups?page=2 Groups]</ref>

==NCUC Officers==

==NCUC Officers==

The officers of the Non Commercial Users Constituency (Term: 2015-2016):

The officers of the Noncommercial Users Constituency (Term: 2015-2016):

*'''NCUC Chair: '''[[Farzaneh Badii]]

*'''NCUC Chair: '''[[Farzaneh Badii]]

*'''Executive Committee Africa''': [[Ines Hfaiedh]]

*'''Executive Committee Africa''': [[Ines Hfaiedh]]

*'''Executive Committee Asia''': [[David Cake]]

*'''Executive Committee Asia''': [[David Cake]]

*'''Executive Committee Europe''': [[Tatiana Tropina]]

*'''Executive Committee Europe''': [[Tatiana Tropina]]

*'''Executive Committee North America''': [[Anna Loup]]

*'''Executive Committee North America''': [[Michael Karanicolas]]

* '''Executive Committee South America''': [[Renata Aquino Ribeiro]]

*'''Executive Committee South America''': [[Renata Aquino Ribeiro]]

==Comments on ICANN Policy Issues==

==Comments on ICANN Policy Issues==

The NCUC, like any other Constituency, is active in sharing its comments and recommendations to different ICANN Policy Issues. On June 12th, 2007, NCUC submitted its statement regarding the GNSO New TLD Committee’s Draft Final Report On The Introduction of New [[gTLD|Generic Top Level Domains]] and opined that the draft report consists of flaws and it is a "recipe for irregularity, discretion and uncertainty in the new domain name space". The Constituency argued that the introduction of morally acceptable and not contrary to public order as a  string criteria is troubling and expressed its strong opposition to this proposal and pointed that it is beyond [[ICANN]]'s technical mandate. NCUC also rejects the expansion of the role of [[ICANN Staff]] and outside expert panels in evaluating the criteria that are non technical, financial or operational. The Constituency recommended that the role of ICANN Staff should be limited only to identifying if a domain name applicant met the operational, technical, and financial requirements objectively and should not evaluate on the basis of morality or other public policy objectives. Furthermore, NCUC also opposed the "substantial opposition" criteria for rejecting a domain name because it is a bad policy for the public and for ICANN. The Constituency argued that the substantial opposition criteria is incompatible with the internationally recognized Freedom of Expression guarantees.<ref>[http://ncuc.syr.edu/policydocuments/PDP-Dec05-NCUC-CONST-STMT-JUNE2007.pdf Comments from ICANN Noncommercial Users Constituency]</ref>

The NCUC, like any other Constituency, is active in sharing its comments and recommendations to different ICANN Policy Issues. On June 12th, 2007, NCUC submitted its statement regarding the GNSO New TLD Committee’s Draft Final Report On The Introduction of New [[gTLD|Generic Top Level Domains]] and opined that the draft report consists of flaws and it is a "recipe for irregularity, discretion and uncertainty in the new domain name space". The Constituency argued that the introduction of morally acceptable and not contrary to public order as a  string criteria is troubling and expressed its strong opposition to this proposal and pointed that it is beyond [[ICANN]]'s technical mandate. NCUC also rejects the expansion of the role of [[ICANN Staff]] and outside expert panels in evaluating the criteria that are non technical, financial or operational. The Constituency recommended that the role of ICANN Staff should be limited only to identifying if a domain name applicant met the operational, technical, and financial requirements objectively and should not evaluate on the basis of morality or other public policy objectives. Furthermore, NCUC also opposed the "substantial opposition" criteria for rejecting a domain name because it is a bad policy for the public and for ICANN. The Constituency argued that the substantial opposition criteria is incompatible with the internationally recognized Freedom of Expression guarantees.<ref>[http://ncuc.syr.edu/policydocuments/PDP-Dec05-NCUC-CONST-STMT-JUNE2007.pdf Comments from ICANN Noncommercial Users Constituency]</ref>

On April 1, 2010, NCUC also commented regarding the [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] (URS) System and the Trademark Clearing House Proposals that were revised by ICANN Staff. The Constituency cited that both documents represent the main deliberations and conclusions of GNSO's [[STI|Special Trademark Issues Team]], however, the Constituency found that some specific issues doesn't substantially coincide  with the GNSO-STI recommendations. It also noticed that although ICANN Staff tried to consolidate the opinions of the Internet community regarding the issues but they believed that staff comments were added to the policy and pointed that it is arbitrary, unjustifiable and illegal.<ref>[http://ncdnhc.org/profiles/blogs/ncuc-comments-on-the-uniform NCUC Comments on Uniform Rapid Suspension System and Trademark Clearing House Proposals]</ref>

On April 1, 2010, NCUC also commented regarding the [[URS|Uniform Rapid Suspension]] (URS) System and the Trademark Clearinghouse Proposals that were revised by ICANN Staff. The Constituency cited that both documents represent the main deliberations and conclusions of GNSO's [[STI|Special Trademark Issues Team]], however, the Constituency found that some specific issues doesn't substantially coincide  with the GNSO-STI recommendations. It also noticed that although ICANN Staff tried to consolidate the opinions of the Internet community regarding the issues but they believed that staff comments were added to the policy and pointed that it is arbitrary, unjustifiable and illegal.<ref>[http://ncdnhc.org/profiles/blogs/ncuc-comments-on-the-uniform NCUC Comments on Uniform Rapid Suspension System and Trademark Clearing House Proposals]</ref>

===Strawman Solution===

===Strawman Solution===