Changes

On January 11, 2012, the ninth version of the [[Applicant Guidebook]] was released one day prior to the opening window of ICANN's [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. The new version gave greater power to the GAC in forcing the [[ICANN Board]] to manually review any application that the committee found problematic. Exactly how many GAC members it would take to cause this review is vague, but it could be as little as one nation's objection. This is a significant change given that the ICANN Board had no requirement to heed any GAC objection in the previous guidebook; the board is still able to over-rule any GAC objection.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/gac-gets-more-power-to-block-controversial-gtlds/ GAC Gets More Power to Block Controversial gTLDs, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

On January 11, 2012, the ninth version of the [[Applicant Guidebook]] was released one day prior to the opening window of ICANN's [[New gTLD Program|new gTLD program]]. The new version gave greater power to the GAC in forcing the [[ICANN Board]] to manually review any application that the committee found problematic. Exactly how many GAC members it would take to cause this review is vague, but it could be as little as one nation's objection. This is a significant change given that the ICANN Board had no requirement to heed any GAC objection in the previous guidebook; the board is still able to over-rule any GAC objection.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/gac-gets-more-power-to-block-controversial-gtlds/ GAC Gets More Power to Block Controversial gTLDs, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

==GAC Advice on ICANN Public Policy Issues==

==GAC Advice on .xxx TLD==

===.xxx TLD===

On March 17, 2011, GAC through its' Chairman Heather Dryden reiterated to ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] that the Committee has no active support for the implementation of [[.xxx]] TLD. GAC also informed ICANN that some governments might prevent access to the TLD, which could harm the global interoperability and stability of the internet. Furthermore, the Committee also pointed out the possibility for ICANN to assume management and oversight role regarding internet content on the proposed ICANN-[[ICM Registry]] Agreement.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/03/17/gac-statement-dot-xxx GAC Statement on .xxx]</ref> Despite GAC's position, the [[ICANN Board]] approved .xxx TLD to the during the [[ICANN 41]] Meeting in San Francisco on March 18.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/summary-icann-san-francisco#xxx Conference summary: ICANN San Francisco]</ref>

On March 17, 2011, GAC through its' Chairman Heather Dryden reiterated to ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] that the Committee has no active support for the implementation of [[.xxx]] TLD. GAC also informed ICANN that some governments might prevent access to the TLD, which could harm the global interoperability and stability of the internet. Furthermore, the Committee also pointed out the possibility for ICANN to assume management and oversight role regarding internet content on the proposed ICANN-[[ICM Registry]] Agreement.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/03/17/gac-statement-dot-xxx GAC Statement on .xxx]</ref> Despite GAC's position, the [[ICANN Board]] approved .xxx TLD to the during the [[ICANN 41]] Meeting in San Francisco on March 18.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/04/03/summary-icann-san-francisco#xxx Conference summary: ICANN San Francisco]</ref>

==References==

==References==