Industry: ccTLDs
Founded: 2003
Members: 165
Website: CCNSO.ICANN.org

The Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) is a body within ICANN created by and for ccTLD managers. It provides a forum for topical issues relating to ccTLDs from a global perspective.[1]

Overview edit

The ccNSO provides a platform for nurturing consensus, technical cooperation, skill building and to facilitate for best practices for ccTLDs and their managers.

The ccNSO also develops and recommends global policies to the ICANN Board for issues relating to ccTLDs. These processes are managed by the ccNSO Council and typically organized through Working Groups. The limited number of issues addressed by this policy development process include issues such as the introduction of Internationalised Domain Name (IDN) ccTLDs.

The ccNSO provides ccTLD managers a way to work together with other stakeholders and communities, such as the Government Advisory Committee (GAC) or the Generic Names Supporting Organisation (GNSO).[2]

ccNSO Membership edit

Membership in the ccNSO is open to all ccTLD managers responsible for managing an ISO 3166 country-code top-level domain, but there are no fees or costs incurred by becoming a ccNSO member.[3]

ccNSO Council edit

The ccNSO is overseen by its council, which is in charge of coordinating the functions of the larger group and managing its policy recommendations. The councillors lead many ccNSO discussions and aim to develop official community positions for their board recommendations. Between the 3 ICANN conferences the council makes a point of meeting via conference calls.

There are 3 councillors per global region, and also 3 councillors chosen by ICANN's NomCom. A term on the Council lasts three years, and the election cycle is staggered so that each year there are a total of 18 councillors representing 5 regions. The additional 3 chosen by the NomCom are chosen to represent a business perspective from outside the ccTLD community. All councillors are able to be re-appointed following the conclusion of their term.[4]

Councillors edit

Current councillors include:[5]

Africa:

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America

North America

Nominating Committee Appointees

The ccNSO also contributes one member to ICANN's NomCom, this position is currently held by Jörg Schweiger.[6]

History edit

One of the biggest complaints with the structuring of ICANN's DNSO came from ccTLD registry operators, who felt that the supporting organization was mainly concerned with gTLDs and that they needed their own separate organization. On October 29, 2002, the country code managers emphasized their dissatisfaction by withdrawing completely from the DNSO.[7] This action prompted and expedited the replacement of the DNSO with the GNSO, which was created in December 2002. Work began on creating the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) in September 2002, culminating in the creation of the ccNSO at ICANN 17 in June 2003.[8]

More Information edit

For more information of the ccNSO, visit their official website at ccNSO.ICANN.org.

References edit