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'''ICANN Meetings''' are held three times a year in various regions around the world in compliance with the [[ICANN Bylaws]], which mandate that the [[ICANN Board]] maintain transparency in managing the Internet and to provide opportunity for international participation and discussion regarding policy developments that impact the [[DNS|Domain Name System]] (DNS) and the global Internet community.  

'''ICANN Meetings''' are held three times a year in various regions around the world in compliance with the [[ICANN Bylaws]], which mandate that the [[ICANN Board]] maintains transparency in managing the Internet and provides opportunity for international participation and discussion regarding policy developments that impact the [[DNS|Domain Name System]] (DNS) and the global Internet community.  

ICANN Meetings are organized and coordinated by at least 100 volunteers from the ICANN's [[SO|Supporting Organizations]] (SOs) and [[AC|Advisory Committees]] (ACs). A general meeting is held annually to give newly elected members their seats.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/about meetings.icann.org]</ref>

ICANN Meetings are organized and coordinated by at least 100 volunteers from ICANN's [[SO|Supporting Organizations]] (SOs) and [[AC|Advisory Committees]] (ACs). A general meeting is held annually to give newly elected members their seats.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/about About], ICANN.org.</ref>

==Participants==

==Participants==

ICANN Meetings are open to everyone who is interested and openly affected by the organization's activities and work. Individuals attending ICANN Meetings include:<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/about Participants]</ref>

ICANN Meetings are open to everyone who is interested in and openly affected by the organization's activities and work. Individuals attending ICANN Meetings include:<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/about Participants], ICANN.org.</ref>

* Government Representatives

* Government Representatives

* [[Registry|Registries]]

* [[Registry|Registries]]

A wide range of topics regarding the many aspects of the Internet and its governance are discussed during the meetings, including the stability and security of the DNS, intellectual property issues, policies affecting the growth and development of the Internet, creation of new top level domains, and many other issues. During ICANN Meetings, workshops, open forums, and remote participation are conducted using different tools, such as live audio streaming, video, chat rooms and online question boxes.

A wide range of topics regarding the many aspects of the Internet and its governance are discussed during the meetings, including the stability and security of the DNS, intellectual property issues, policies affecting the growth and development of the Internet, creation of new top level domains, and many other issues. During ICANN Meetings, workshops, open forums, and remote participation are conducted using different tools, such as live audio streaming, video, chat rooms and online question boxes.

ICANN Meetings are free and are normally held for five days. An outline of the entire week's activities and agenda are provided in the morning of the opening day of every ICANN Meeting.

ICANN Meetings are free and are normally held for five days. An outline of the entire week's activities and agenda are provided the morning of the opening day of every ICANN Meeting.

All of ICANN's constituencies hold their own meetings and sessions to discuss their concerns and issues. A day is dedicated for the internal review of the [[ICANN Structure]] and for the [[SO]]'s and [[AC]]'s councils to make decisions on issues raised during the meetings. Workshops are also held to provide the latest information and upcoming issues regarding the internet industry.

All of ICANN's constituencies hold their own meetings and sessions to discuss their respective concerns and issues. A day is dedicated for the internal review of the [[ICANN Structure]] and for the [[SO]]'s and [[AC]]'s councils to make decisions on issues raised during the meetings. Workshops are also held to provide the latest information and upcoming issues regarding the internet industry.

Annual elections of officers are also held during the meetings and reports from the different constituencies of working group are also submitted.

Annual elections of officers are also held during the meetings, and reports from the different constituencies of working group are also submitted.

===Meeting Schedule===

===Meeting Schedule===

The first ICANN Meeting lasted only three days,<ref>[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:FoU7zsFSPv8J:singapore41.icann.org/meetings/singapore2011/transcript-welcome-20jun11-en.txt+first+ICANN+meeting+singapore+1999&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com [[ICAN 41]] Opening Transcript]</ref> while more contemporary meetings have all lasted just over a week. Monday through Friday has generally been the busiest time of the conference, but certain meetings and working groups often take place the weekend prior to the official start.<ref>[http://svsf40.icann.org/node/22237 [[ICANN 40]] Schedule]</ref> The schedule also features a number of specialized networking events, provided by various sponsors. These include a Welcoming Reception, a Gala Night, and the [[Rod Beckstrom]]-introduced Music Night.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/08/16/icann-fires-ceo Dot Nxt Op-ed on Beckstrom's Resignation]</ref>

The first ICANN Meeting lasted only three days,<ref name="singapore">[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:FoU7zsFSPv8J:singapore41.icann.org/meetings/singapore2011/transcript-welcome-20jun11-en.txt+first+ICANN+meeting+singapore+1999&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com [[ICANN 41]] Opening Transcript], ICANN.org.</ref> while more contemporary meetings have all lasted just over a week. Monday through Friday has generally been the busiest time of the conference, but certain meetings and working groups often take place the weekend prior to the official start.<ref>[http://svsf40.icann.org/node/22237 [[ICANN 40]] Schedule], ICANN.org.</ref> The schedule also features a number of specialized networking events, provided by various sponsors. These include a Welcoming Reception, a Gala Night, and the [[Rod Beckstrom]]-introduced Music Night.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/08/16/icann-fires-ceo Dot Nxt Op-ed on Beckstrom's Resignation], Dot-Nxt.com. Published 2011 August 16.</ref>

The meetings themselves are a mix of closed and open door sessions between the [[SG|stakeholder groups]], [[Constituency|constituencies]], and other bodies. The meetings always conclude on Friday with an open [[ICANN Board|board meeting]] where the week's final resolutions are discussed and voted upon, and time is made to hear from any member of the community via an open mic.

The meetings themselves are a mix of closed and open door sessions between the [[SG|stakeholder groups]], [[Constituency|constituencies]], and other bodies. The meetings always conclude on Friday with an open [[ICANN Board|board meeting]] where the week's final resolutions are discussed and voted upon, and time is made to hear from any member of the community via an open mic.

It was announced several months before [[ICANN 44]] in Prague that the Board planned to restructure the meetings so that they ended on Thursday instead of Friday. Friday morning meetings, which have traditionally been the [[AC]]/[[SO]] committee reports, Board committee reports, and the public Board meeting, had been removed. The committee reports are instead to be published on the ICANN website, and the Public Board Meeting has been replaced by a one hour session following the Public Forum, during which the Board will outline what they heard during the week from their meetings with AC/SOs, and identify what matters they expect to be dealing with before the next meeting. The Board will then begin the following meeting with another community session, where it outlines what has been done since the last meeting.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30apr12-en.htm ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday, icann.org]</ref> Following this announcement, the ICANN community expressed concerns over the loss of transparency that this change brings.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-cancels-fridays-bad-for-transparency/ ICANN cancels Fridays. Bad for transparency, domainincite.com]</ref>

It was announced several months before [[ICANN 44]] in Prague that the Board planned to restructure the meetings so that they ended on Thursday instead of Friday. Friday morning meetings, which have traditionally been the [[AC]]/[[SO]] committee reports, Board committee reports, and the public Board meeting, had been removed. The committee reports are instead to be published on the ICANN website, and the Public Board Meeting has been replaced by a one hour session following the Public Forum, during which the Board will outline what they heard during the week from their meetings with AC/SOs, and identify what matters they expect to be dealing with before the next meeting. The Board will then begin the following meeting with another community session, where it outlines what has been done since the last meeting.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-30apr12-en.htm ICANN Wraps Up Prague Meeting on Thursday], ICANN.org. Published 2012 April 30.</ref> Following this announcement, the ICANN community expressed concerns over the loss of transparency that this change brings.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-cancels-fridays-bad-for-transparency/ ICANN cancels Fridays. Bad for transparency], DomainIncite.com. Published 2012 May 2.</ref>

===The Annual Meeting===

===The Annual Meeting===

The Annual Meeting is required by the [[ICANN Bylaws]] to happen at least every 14 months in order to conduct important voting procedures and other structural processes. The last ICANN Meeting of the year is generally designated as the Annual Meeting. The conclusion of the Annual Meeting is when new members of most bodies within ICANN take their seats, most notably the directors of the [[ICANN Board]]. It is also a meeting where many bodies within ICANN request full attendance from their members.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm ICANN Bylaws]</ref>

The Annual Meeting is required by the [[ICANN Bylaws]] to happen at least every 14 months in order to conduct important voting procedures and other structural processes. The last ICANN Meeting of the year is generally designated as the Annual Meeting. The conclusion of the Annual Meeting is when new members of most bodies within ICANN take their seats, most notably the directors of the [[ICANN Board]]. It is also a meeting where many bodies within ICANN request full attendance from their members.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/bylaws.htm ICANN Bylaws], ICANN.org.</ref>

==Sponsorship==

==Sponsorship==

Over the years, a variety of sponsorship schemes have been used with relation to ICANN meetings. It has been noted that the initial operation and the first meetings of the organization were made possible through loans from major industry companies, such as [[MCI]], [[Cisco]], and others.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/MCI,-Cisco-come-to-ICANNs-rescue/2100-1023_3-230097.html MCI Cisco come to ICANN's rescue]</ref><ref>[http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:FoU7zsFSPv8J:singapore41.icann.org/meetings/singapore2011/transcript-welcome-20jun11-en.txt+first+ICANN+meeting+singapore+1999&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&source=www.google.com ICANN 41 Opening Transcript]</ref> Currently, they have a 6 tiered sponsorship scheme, offering plans ranging in price from $7,500 to $250,000. At one point, the highest level of sponsorship cost $500,000.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2011/01/05/verisign-gives-icann-500k-for-sponsorship/ VeriSign gives ICANN 500k for Sponsorship]</ref> There is also now the opportunity to spsonor individual "networking events", such as a lunch, coffee break, Music Night, etc.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship Meetings.ICANN.Sponsorship]</ref>  

Over the years, a variety of sponsorship schemes have been used with relation to ICANN meetings. It has been noted that the initial operation and the first meetings of the organization were made possible through loans from major industry companies, such as [[MCI]], [[Cisco]], and others.<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/MCI,-Cisco-come-to-ICANNs-rescue/2100-1023_3-230097.html MCI Cisco come to ICANN's rescue], CNET.com.</ref><ref name="singapore"></ref> Currently, they have a six-tiered sponsorship scheme, offering plans ranging in price from $7,500 to $250,000. At one point, the highest level of sponsorship cost $500,000.<ref>[http://domainnamewire.com/2011/01/05/verisign-gives-icann-500k-for-sponsorship/ VeriSign gives ICANN 500k for Sponsorship], DomainNameWire.com. Published 2011 January 5.</ref> There is also now the opportunity to sponsor individual "networking events", such as a lunch, coffee break, Music Night, etc.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship Sponsorship], ICANN.org.</ref>  

Highly active and reliable ICANN sponsors include [[Verisign]], [[Afilias]], [[Neustar]], [[Iron Mountain]], and others.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/verisign-drops-150000-on-icann-singapore/ Verisign Drops 150,000 on ICANN Singapore]</ref> It is common for local corporations to sponsor when ICANN's rotating meeting schedule puts the meeting in their region.

Highly active and reliable ICANN sponsors include [[Verisign]], [[Afilias]], [[Neustar]], [[Iron Mountain]], and others.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/verisign-drops-150000-on-icann-singapore/ Verisign Drops 150,000 on ICANN Singapore], DomainIncite.com. Published 2011 May 23.</ref> It is common for local corporations to sponsor when ICANN's rotating meeting schedule puts the meeting in their region.

Full sponsorship info can be found [http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship here].

Full sponsorship info can be found [http://meetings.icann.org/sponsorship here].

==Past and Future ICANN Meetings==

==Past and Future ICANN Meetings==

The primary factors considered in selecting the locations for the ICANN Meetings include: costs, accessibility, convenience, visa restrictions, availability and affordability of local transportation, proximity of hotel accommodations to the venue of the meetings, excellent space and meeting facilities, installation of networks infrastructures in meeting venues, safety and security.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/location-selection-criteria Meeting Location Criteria]</ref>

The primary factors considered in selecting the locations for the ICANN Meetings include: costs, accessibility, convenience, visa restrictions, availability and affordability of local transportation, proximity of hotel accommodations to the venue of the meetings, excellent space and meeting facilities, installation of networks infrastructures in meeting venues, safety and security.<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/location-selection-criteria Meeting Location Criteria], ICANN.org.</ref>

===List of ICANN Meetings===

===List of ICANN Meetings===

Below is the list of past and future ICANN Meetings that was held in different countries worldwide:<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/calendar Calendar of Events]</ref>

Below is the list of past and future ICANN Meetings that was held in different countries worldwide:<ref>[http://meetings.icann.org/calendar Calendar of Events], ICANN.org.</ref>

* [[ICANN 1]] - Singapore, Singapore-March 2-4, 1999

* [[ICANN 1]] - Singapore, Singapore-March 2-4, 1999

* [[ICANN 2]] - Berlin, Germany- May 25-27, 1999

* [[ICANN 2]] - Berlin, Germany- May 25-27, 1999