Agreement Between ICANN and US Dept of Commerce (Score 1)

The fact is this is a major step forward for the multi-stakeholder model of consultation that ICANN represents. It means ICANN is more autonomous. Where's the proof? Previous to this agreement there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the DOC and ICANN that was highly prescriptive. The MOU expires on 30 September 2006. The Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce has said publicly today that he wants to work to make ICANN a stable, lasting and independent institution. The major gains in this new agreement are: ICANN will no longer have its work prescribed for it. How it works and what it works on is up to ICANN and its community to devise; ICANN is not required to report every 6 months as it has been under the MOU. It will now provide an annual report that will be targeted to the whole Internet community; There is no requirement to report regularly to the DOC. The DOC will simply meet with senior ICANN staff from time to time. So, the top-line here is that this is a major step forward for ICANN to be completely autonomous. But that autonomy means ICANN has an obligation to be accountable to its community and it will be.