Business Constituency
The Commercial and Users Business Constituency (Business Constituency) represents the position and interests of small, medium, large and multinational enterprises as DNS and Internet Users to the within the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. The Constituency has more than 1.5 million member worldwide wherein 90% belongs to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).[1]
Mission
The main objective of the Business Constituency (BC) is to ensure the full representation of the views and interest of the internet business user community, ICANN policies should be consistent in maintaining a secure, stable and reliable internet in conjunction with business development and to promote consumer confidence and must the policies of the internet governing body should incorporate a broad stakeholder participation in a common forum for both suppliers and users.[2]
Responsibilities
The Business Constituency has a Executive Committee designated to administer, supervise and coordinate its activities and positions to accomplish its mission and effectively represent its members to the ICANN BOard.
The Constituency's responsibilities include:[3]
- Election of two representatives to the GNSO from different geographical regions to discuss the Constituency's position regarding domain name policy issues. Zahid Jamil and John Berard are the representatives to the GNSO.
- The Constituency's Credentials Committee evaluates the qualification of a member based on the BC charter and recommend its membership to direct the applicant to an appropriate constituency where it can serve better.David Fares, Mike O'Connor & Martin Sutton are members of the Credentials Committee.
- Appoints two members to ICANN's nominating committee (NomCom) who will represent the small and large business. Mike Roberts & Chris Martin were appointed in 2009.
- The BC appoints one rapporteur who will be responsible in leading every major policy issues and prepare draft position papers serves as spokesperson; appoints one support and one or more observer to be assigned to the rapporteur to ensure a more active policy group.ss.