Changes

The UK government hosted a high-level meeting during ICANN London that brought together representatives from governments of the world to discuss Internet Governance and specifically the NTIA transition of the IANA contract. Many representatives expressed that the transition should not leave specific governments or interest groups with more control over the Internet, but that governments should have a voice in political issues in Internet Governance. Many government representatives recognized that the stewardship of IANA should be a shared responsibility between governments and private sector groups while other representatives stressed giving governments a stronger voice than other stakeholders.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/news/multimedia/339 Video from High Level Government Meeting] ''ICANN.org''; Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

The UK government hosted a high-level meeting during ICANN London that brought together representatives from governments of the world to discuss Internet Governance and specifically the NTIA transition of the IANA contract. Many representatives expressed that the transition should not leave specific governments or interest groups with more control over the Internet, but that governments should have a voice in political issues in Internet Governance. Many government representatives recognized that the stewardship of IANA should be a shared responsibility between governments and private sector groups while other representatives stressed giving governments a stronger voice than other stakeholders.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/news/multimedia/339 Video from High Level Government Meeting] ''ICANN.org''; Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

===GAC Communiqué===

===GAC Participation & Communiqué===

The [[Governmental Advisory Committee]] drafts a report to the ICANN board during each ICANN meeting, titled a GAC Communique, in which they give advice to the board on decisions involving policy and implementation. Highlights from the communiqué include:

The GAC drafts a report to the ICANN board during each ICANN meeting, titled a GAC Communique, in which they give advice to the board on decisions involving policy and implementation. Highlights from the London Communiqué include:

 

*The GAC advises the Board regarding the [[.africa]] string, saying it would like to see an expedited process, especially once the [[Independent Review Panel]] comes to a decision regarding the two applicants for the string. They reaffirm their decision that [[DotConnectAfrica]]'s application should not proceed.

* The GAC advises the Board regarding the [[.africa]] string, saying it would like to see an expedited process, especially once the [[Independent Review Panel]] comes to a decision regarding the two applicants for the string. They reaffirm their decision that [[DotConnectAfrica]]'s application should not proceed.

*The GAC mentioned the controversy surrounding [[.wine]] and [[.vin]], where some European GAC representatives strongly felt that the applications for these strings should not proceed without proper safeguards for geographic names at the second level. However, the GAC was unable to reach consensus advice regarding this issue and thus did not relay any formal advice to the Board.

* The GAC mentioned the controversy surrounding [[.wine]] and [[.vin]], where some European GAC representatives strongly felt that the applications for these strings should not proceed without proper safeguards for geographic names at the second level. However, the GAC was unable to reach consensus advice regarding this issue and thus did not relay any formal advice to the Board.

*The GAC requested safeguards in the New gTLDs for IGO (Inter-Governmental Organization) names at the second level, and specifically related such advice for names relating to Red Cross and Red Crescent.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/gac-to-board-25jun14-en.pdf GAC London Communiqué] (PDF) ''ICANN.org''; Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

* The GAC requested safeguards in the New gTLDs for IGO (Inter-Governmental Organization) names at the second level, and specifically related such advice for names relating to Red Cross and Red Crescent.<ref>[https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/gac-to-board-25jun14-en.pdf GAC London Communiqué] (PDF) ''ICANN.org''; Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

 

==Session Highlights==

==Session Highlights==

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