Governmental Advisory Committee

GAC is the acronym for the Governmental Advisory Committee, which is a formal advisory committee providing important feedback and input to ICANN regarding its public policy.

Overview

ICANN relies on certain advisory committees to receive guidance and advice related to the interests and needs of stakeholders who are not able to directly participate in the Supporting Organizations; one of these advisory committees is the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), which is composed of representatives of national governments from all over the world.

The GAC provides its advice and guidance upon request, and it also has the power to raise government issues regarding overlap between ICANN and national laws or procedures.

Other such advisory committees which are important for ICANN are:

• ALAC (At-Large Advisory Committee)
• Root Server System Advisory Committee
• SSAC (Security and Stability Advisory Committee)
• TLG (Technical Liaison Group)

GAC Structure

The governmental advisory committee of ICANN has more than 100 members. Three important GAC features are listed below:

• GAC structure consists of a Chairman and 3 Vice-Chairs depending on the geographical area
• GAC has its own GAC Secretariat
• GAC organized at least three meetings on a yearly basis which are held in connection with ICANN meetings.

GAC objectives and duties

Furthermore, GAC of ICANN has the main objective to provide advice to ICANN regarding public policy issues and many governments from all over the world participate when providing such guidance.

In particular, the GAC analyzes and takes into consideration ICANN's activities and policies as they might influence governments, especially when there are matters related to interaction between ICANN's policies and national laws or international agreements.

Moreover, GAC has the duty to incorporate the diverse opinions and perspective of its members when supplying an advice for ICANN while taking into account the laws and policies of the member countries involved. In order to provide effective and useful advice to ICANN, GAC must stay up-to-date with the Internet dynamics.

GAC Achievements

Over the years, GAC is proud of accomplishing the following:

• Setting up the principles for ccTLS management and delegation'
• Setting up the principles for public policy for delegation, introduction and gTLD operation;
• Setting up the principles for public policy of gTLD Whois services;

GAC has achieved great improvements on issues related to IDNs as well as IPv4 and IPv6 best practices and continues to do a great work. GAC is constantly looking for new members especially from developing countries in order to increase global awareness, increase participation and make sure that ICANN is reflecting diversity at worldwide level.

GAC working style

Depending on the issues which are studied, there are different working groups for each issue. For instance there was a different working group for IDNs as well as for ccTLDs. This is how GAC is working.

Governmental Advisory Committee. Considers and provides advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues (ICANN Bylaws).