Changes

==Background==

==Background==

The ICANN Board made recommendations on how to improve the operations and structure of the GNSO. One of its recommendations is the development of new GNSO constituencies in accordance with Article X, Section 5(4) of the ICANN Bylaws. Since there is no specific guidelines stipulated in the ICANN Bylaws on how the community could file a petition for a new constituency, the ICANN Staff helped the ICANN community in formulating procedures in accordance with principles of the Bylaws as directed by the ICANN Board. On October 2008, two procedures were formulated and adopted by the internet community such as the submission of Notice of Intent (NOIF) to Form a New GNSO Constituency and a formal Petition/Charter. NPOC submitted submitted its NOIF on June 15, 2010 followed by its Petition?Charter on November 2, 2010 which was revised on December 7, 2010.<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/npoc-petition-charter/msg00017.html Staff Summary and Analysis of Comments - NPOC]</ref>

The [[ICANN Board]] made recommendations on how to improve the operations and structure of the GNSO. One of its recommendations was the development of new GNSO constituencies in accordance with Article X, Section 5(4) of the [[ICANN Bylaws]]. As there were no specific guidelines stipulated in the ICANN Bylaws on how the community could file a petition for a new constituency, the ICANN Staff helped the ICANN community in formulating procedures in accordance with principles within the Bylaws, as directed by the ICANN Board. On October 2008, two procedures were formulated and adopted by the Internet community: the submission of a Notice of Intent (NOIF) to Form a New GNSO Constituency and a formal Petition/Charter. NPOC submitted its NOIF on June 15, 2010, followed by its Petition/Charter on November 2, 2010, which was subsequently revised on December 7, 2010.<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/lists/npoc-petition-charter/msg00017.html Staff Summary and Analysis of Comments - NPOC]</ref>

A public comment regarding NPOC's intention to become part of the new GNSO Constituency was conducted by the staff on December 1, 2010 until January 30, 2011.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec10-en.htm Public Comment: Community Comment Invited on Petition To Form A New GNSO Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency]</ref> The Charter of NPOC was approved by ICANN on June 24, 2011 and became an official GNSO constituency.<ref>[https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/Not-for-Profit+Operational+Concerns+%28NPOC%29 Approval Motion - 24 June 2011]</ref>

 

A public comment regarding NPOC's intention to become part of the new GNSO Constituency was conducted by ICANN staff from December 1, 2010 until January 30, 2011.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-01dec10-en.htm Public Comment: Community Comment Invited on Petition To Form A New GNSO Not-for-Profit Organizations Constituency]</ref> The Charter of NPOC was approved by ICANN on June 24, 2011, and this NPOC became an official GNSO constituency.<ref>[https://community.icann.org/display/gnsononcomstake/Not-for-Profit+Operational+Concerns+%28NPOC%29 Approval Motion - 24 June 2011]</ref>

==Structure==

==Structure==

NPOC is composed of Executive, Membership, Policy and Communications Committees. The constituency will also elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretariat and Committee Chairs. The officers and members of each committee shall be elected by the constituency membership with term limitations. Each term will last a year and any elected officer cannot serve more than more than five years within a ten years period. The rules and responsibilities of the elected officers are defined in the NPOC Charter.<ref>[http://www.npoc.org/images/NPOC_Charter_Approved_06-24-2011.pdf NPOC Petition and Charter]</ref>

NPOC is composed of Executive, Membership, Policy and Communications Committees. The constituency will also elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretariat and Committee Chairs. The officers and members of each committee shall be elected by the constituency members. Each term will last a year and any elected officer cannot serve more than more than five years within a ten years period. The rules and responsibilities of the elected officers are defined in the NPOC Charter.<ref>[http://www.npoc.org/images/NPOC_Charter_Approved_06-24-2011.pdf NPOC Petition and Charter]</ref>

==Members==

==Members==

==Comments on ICANN Issues==

==Comments on ICANN Issues==

Since its establishment, NPOC had been active in sharing comments and recommendations on different ICANN issues particularly regarding the new gTLD program set to start on January 12, 2012. The organization submitted its comments during the drafting of the Applicant Guidebook and its most recent comments were submitted on May 15, 2011 by Amber Sterling, chairman of the constituency. Its comments include the following:<ref>[http://www.npoc.org/images/NPOC_ApplicantGuidebook_Comments_05-15-11.pdf Applicant Guidebook Comments, May 15, 2011]</ref>

Since its establishment, NPOC had been active in sharing comments and recommendations on different ICANN issues, particularly regarding the new gTLD program, which is set to start on January 12, 2012. The organization submitted its comments during the drafting of the Applicant Guidebook; most recently, comments were submitted on May 15, 2011 by Amber Sterling, Chairman of the constituency. NPOC's comments include the following:

* ICANN Board should provide price options for non-profit organizations for new gTLD applications based on criteria.

* The ICANN Board should provide price options for non-profit organizations for new gTLD applications based on criteria.

* Suggested that the ICANN Board implement initial evaluation to weight the costs and benefits of proposed new gTLDs to the public.

* It was suggested that the ICANN Board implement an initial evaluation period to weigh the costs and benefits of proposed new gTLDs to the public.

* NPOC praised the ICANN Board's initiative in adding questions related to the intent that needs to be answered by applicants during the application process. In connection to this, NPOC suggested to grade the answers to those questions as part of the review of applications.

* NPOC praised the ICANN Board's initiative in adding questions to the new gTLD application related to an applicant's intent. In connection to this, NPOC suggested to grade the answers to those questions as part of the review of applications.

* NPOC suggested to further define the role of Independent Objector (IO) in connection with IO selection, IO support, IO application review  

* NPOC suggested to further define the role of Independent Objector (IO) in connection with IO selection, IO support, IO application review and IP decision, if it is necessary to object or not.

and IP decision if it is necessary to object or not.

* It was recommended that marks not protected by court or statute should be submitted to the Trademark Clearinghouse periodically (every 3 years) and must be a requirement during the [[Sunrise Period]]. In addition, the expansion of trademark claims and Sunrise Period services was also recommended by the constituency as well as the reduction of Clearinghouse filing fees for non-profit organizations.

* Recommended that marks not protected by court or statute should be submitted to the Trademark Clearinghouse periodically (3 years) and must be a requirement during the Sunrise period. In addition, the expansion of Trademark claims and Sunrise period services was also recommended by the constituency as well as the reduction of Clearinghouse filing fees for non-profit organization.

* It was also recommended that the Uniform Rapid Suspension ([[URS]]) for non-profit organization and to reduce the requirements for the limited loser pays to complaints for 8 or more domain names in dispute from the current 26 domain names in dispute.<ref>[http://www.npoc.org/images/NPOC_ApplicantGuidebook_Comments_05-15-11.pdf Applicant Guidebook Comments, May 15, 2011]</ref>

* Recommended that the Uniform Rapid Suspension ([[URS]]) for non-profit organization and to reduce the requirements for the limited loser pays to complaints for 8 or more domain names in dispute from the current 26 domain names in dispute.

NPOC's compilation of comments on the different [[DNS]] Policy Issues of ICANN can be found [http://www.npoc.org/icannsubmittedcomments.html here]

NPOC's compilation of comments on the different [[DNS]] Policy Issues of ICANN can be found [http://www.npoc.org/icannsubmittedcomments.html here].

==Senate Hearing Testimony Regarding New gTLD Expansion==

==Senate Hearing Testimony Regarding New gTLD Expansion==

On December 8, 2011, [[Angela Williams]], General Counsel of YMCA of the USA testified during hearing conducted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation regarding the ICANN's new gTLD expansion program. Williams represented NPOC and testified that new gTLD program ''"compromises use of the internet by increasing the risk of fraud, cybersquatting, and trademark infringement and by significantly escalating the cost to protect against such unlawful activities."'' She requested the Senate committee and all parties involved to further evaluate the program with the non-profit organizations in mind.<ref>[http://commerce.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=56a49ede-865f-4bbe-9635-58d0b59add7b Testimony of Angela F. Williams]</ref>

On December 8, 2011, [[Angela Williams]], General Counsel of YMCA of the USA, testified during a hearing conducted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation regarding the ICANN's new gTLD program. Williams represented NPOC and testified that new gTLD program compromises use of the Internet by increasing the risk of fraud, cybersquatting, and trademark infringement and by significantly escalating the cost to protect against such unlawful activities. She requested the Senate committee and all parties involved to further evaluate the program with the non-profit organizations in mind.<ref>[http://commerce.senate.gov/public/?a=Files.Serve&File_id=56a49ede-865f-4bbe-9635-58d0b59add7b Testimony of Angela F. Williams]</ref>

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:ICANN Bodies]]

[[Category:ICANN Bodies]]

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