Changes

== WCL Independent Review on RSSAC==

== WCL Independent Review on RSSAC==

Article IV, Section 4, Paragraph 1 of the ICANN Bylaws stipulated that a review on the performance and operations of the RSSAC by an independent organization is required to determine if the committee is still serving its purpose in the ICANN structure of if certain changes in the structure or operations is necessary to improve its functions.<ref>

Article IV, Section 4, Paragraph 1 of the ICANN Bylaws stipulated that a review on the performance and operations of the RSSAC by an independent organization is required to determine if the committee is still serving its purpose in the ICANN structure and if certain changes in the structure or operations are necessary to improve its functions.<ref>

[http://www.icann.org/en/general/archive-bylaws/bylaws-15dec02.htm#IV ICANN Bylaws 2002]</ref> To be able to comply with the Bylaws, the [[ICANN Board]] issued a Request For Proposal ([[RFP]]) and Terms of Reference ([[TOR]]) to conduct and independent review on RSSAC on July 2008.<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rfp-tor-request-11jul08-en.htm Request For Proposals]</ref> ICANN selected Westlake Consulting Limited ([[WCL]]) and on November of 2008, the company started performing face to face interviews with some individuals during the ICANN Meeting in Cairo and during the IETF meeting in Minnesota regarding RSSAC. WCL also conducted telephone interviews and accessed all available written-records regarding the committee. <ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/ RSSAC Review]</ref>

[http://www.icann.org/en/general/archive-bylaws/bylaws-15dec02.htm#IV ICANN Bylaws 2002]</ref> To be able to comply with the Bylaws, the [[ICANN Board]] issued a Request For Proposal and Terms of Reference to conduct and independent review on the RSSAC in July, 2008.<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rfp-tor-request-11jul08-en.htm Request For Proposals]</ref> ICANN selected [[Westlake Consulting Limited]], and in November of 2008, the company started performing face to face interviews with some individuals during the ICANN Meeting in Cairo and during the IETF meeting in Minnesota regarding RSSAC. WCL also conducted telephone interviews and accessed all available written-records regarding the committee. <ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/ RSSAC Review]</ref>

===Findings===

===Findings===

By April of 2009, WCL published its final report on the Independent Review on RSSAC with the following findings:<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rssac-review-final-mar09-en.pdf WCL Final Report]</ref>

By April of 2009, WCL published its final report on the Independent Review on RSSAC with the following findings:<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rssac-review-final-mar09-en.pdf WCL Final Report]</ref>

* RSSAC only provide reactions to issues instead of regularly giving updates to the ICANN Board regarding the activities and functions of the committee.

* RSSAC only provides reactions to issues instead of regularly giving updates to the ICANN Board regarding the activities and functions of the committee.

* Communication and agreement about the expectations of the Board towards the committee is insufficient.

* Communication and agreement about the expectations of the Board towards the committee is insufficient.

* RSAAC provides minimal strategic advice to the ICANN Board because the committee is dominated by independent root server operators that are focused on operations.

* RSAAC provides minimal strategic advice to the ICANN Board because the committee is dominated by independent root server operators that are focused on operations.

* The records of the RSSAC meetings are poor and incomplete.

* The records of the RSSAC meetings are poor and incomplete.

* The election process of the members of the committee and its chairman is not clear.

* The election process of the members of the committee and its chairman is not clear.

* The Root Server Operators believed that some of the functions of RSSAC identified in the Bylaws of ICANN is their responsibility and because of that the committee's reported little of its responsibilities.

* The Root Server Operators believed that some of the functions of RSSAC identified in the Bylaws of ICANN are their responsibility, and because of that the committee's reported little of its responsibilities.

* Interaction between RSSAC and the different organization within ICANN is limited because most of the committee's members do not or seldom participate in [[ICANN Meetings]]. RSSAC committee members frequently attend or conduct their meeting in conjunction with the meetings of the [[IETF]].

* Interaction between RSSAC and the different organization within ICANN is limited because most of the committee's members do not or seldom participate in [[ICANN Meetings]]. RSSAC committee members frequently attend or conduct their meeting in conjunction with the meetings of the [[IETF]].

Based on its final report, WCL recommended the following to improve the operational functions of RSSAC:<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rssac-review-final-mar09-en.pdf Final Report Independent Review on RSSAC]</ref>

Based on its final report, WCL recommended the following to improve the operational functions of RSSAC:<ref>[http://192.0.43.22/en/reviews/rssac/rssac-review-final-mar09-en.pdf Final Report Independent Review on RSSAC]</ref>

* Re-establish RSSAC as a strategy group which will be jointly supervised by ICANN and Root Server Operators.

* Re-establish RSSAC as a strategy group which will be jointly supervised by ICANN and Root Server Operators.

* Amend the Terms of Reference of the ICANN Bylaws and set out a new role for RSSAC which is to to "provide a source of unbiased strategic advice to ICANN, the Root Server Operators and the Internet Community about the best way ahead for the Root Server System."  

* Amend the Terms of Reference of the ICANN Bylaws and set out a new role for RSSAC to "provide a source of unbiased strategic advice to ICANN, the Root Server Operators and the Internet Community about the best way ahead for the Root Server System."  

* Reconstitute RSSAC's membership with 9 initial members who have strong technical backgrounds. The committee shall shall be composed of composed of 4 Root Server Operators, 1 appointed by IANA; and 4 appointed by the  ICANN Board/[[Nominating Committee]].

* Reconstitute RSSAC's membership with 9 initial members who have strong technical backgrounds. The committee should be composed of 4 Root Server Operators, 1 appointed by [[IANA]]; and 4 appointed by the  ICANN Board/[[NomCom|Nominating Committee]].

* The Chairman of the committee shall be appointed by its members with a two years term with a limited three consecutive 2-years term.

* The Chairman of the committee shall be appointed by its members with a two year term, with a limited three consecutive 2-years terms.

* Appoint non voting liaison members which include Outward liaison from the RSSAC to the ICANN Board and the [[SSAC]] and an Inward liaison to the RSSAC from IETF/[[IAB]].

* Appoint non-voting liaison members, which include Outward liaison from the RSSAC to the ICANN Board and the [[SSAC]] and an Inward liaison to the RSSAC from [[IETF]]/[[IAB]].

* RSSAC should meet in conjunction with ICANN meetings and maybe able to hold additional meetings as necessary; meetings shall be open for public participation and hold a closed meeting if necessary; Root Server Operators and members of the ICANN Board should be invited to the meeting even during closed sessions and shall be given the right to speak under the RSSAC Chairman's discretion.

* RSSAC should meet in conjunction with ICANN meetings and may be able to hold additional meetings as necessary; meetings shall be open for public participation and hold a closed meeting if necessary; Root Server Operators and members of the ICANN Board should be invited to the meeting even during closed sessions and shall be given the right to speak under the RSSAC Chairman's discretion.

==RSSAC Working Group Review on WCL Report==

==RSSAC Working Group Review on WCL Report==