7. Selection of Individuals to the ICANN Board of Directors.

7.1. Authority.

Under the provisions of Article VI of the Bylaws for ICANN, the ASO is responsible for selecting persons to fill seats 9 and 10 of the ICANN Board of Directors. Under the provisions of Article VIII of the Bylaws for ICANN the Address Council is tasked to select these persons.

7.2. Overview.

The ICANN bylaws establish the beginning of the terms of seats 9 and 10. In those years when the term of one of these seats is to expire, the Address Council will establish a time line in accordance with the General Selection Procedure described below to enable it to select a person to fill the projected vacancy. In the event that a seat is vacated prior to the expiration of the term, then the Address Council will exercise the Extraordinary Selection Procedure described below. In either case the procedure will consist of the four phases - Nomination, Comment, Interview, and Selection.

7.3. Eligibility Requirements.

All candidates desiring to be selected to the ICANN board by the Address Council must meet the selection criteria and conflict of interest requirements as stated by ICANN in its Bylaws and other relevant documents that ICANN publishes or identifies. No candidate will be considered who does not sign a Letter of Certification attesting to compliance with the ICANN stated requirements as well as attesting to previous conduct and character. This letter will be sent via email to each applicant with a set of administrative instructions concerning its execution. Any applicant who fails to follow these instructions will not be considered as a candidate for selection.

7.4. General Selection Procedure.

The General Selection Procedure (GSP) will be used to fill the ASO designated seats when those seats will be vacated by expiration of the term of service.

7.4.1.

In those years when a selection is required the Council will establish a timeline in accordance with the requirements to seat the board member as stated by ICANN.

7.4.2. Nomination Phase.

The period of the nomination phase is 60 calendar days. The Secretariat will post an announcement to the ASO web site and to other web sites and email lists as appropriated declaring the nomination period open. This announcement will contain instruction directing interested parties to the ASO website where they may obtain information regarding the selection process, candidate eligibility requirements, and the responsibilities upon selection. Anyone may nominate any person whom they wish. Nominations will be sent to the Secretariat who will contact the nominee, notify them of their impending nomination, and provide them with a copy of the Letter of Certification and a general questionnaire. The nominee will complete the letter and questionnaire and return them to the Secretariat. The Secretariat will forward them to the Qualification Review Committee. This committee will consist of one member from each region. The committee will review the submittals for completeness and for compliance with the eligibility criteria and conflict of interest requirements. If it deems necessary, the committee may ask for additional clarification information from any nominee. As each person is determined to be a qualified candidate, their name will be published on the ASO web site to a running list of candidates. Persons who do not complete this activity by the close of the nomination period will not be considered as candidates. If there does not exist at least one more candidate than the number of open seats, the nomination period will be extended until such time as this number is obtained.

7.4.3. Comment Phase.

The period of the comment phase is 30 calendar days plus the amount of time required to conduct the interview phase. The comment phase starts at the close of the nomination phase. A comment section will be made available on the ASO web site. Anyone may submit a comment. All comments will be displayed publicly in real time. The comment phase will conclude at the same time as the interview phase

7.4.4. Interview Phase.

The period of the interview phase is a maximum of 30 calendar days and commences 30 days after the start of the comment phase. During this phase, one or more interviews will be conducted. Interviews may be conducted in writing, telephonically, or in person.

7.4.4.1. Written Interview.

The written interview will be conducted for all candidates. At the beginning of the interview phase each candidate will receive a list of questions to answer in writing. The candidates will have 10 calendar days to complete the questionnaire and return it to the Secretariat.

7.4.4.2.

The Address Council will meet to examine the responses to the written interview questionnaire from each candidate and determine if any candidates should be further interviewed. Persons not considered for further interview are not removed from any final consideration for selection. All further interviews will be conducted in the same manner, either telephonically or in person.

7.4.4.3. Telephonic Interview.

The telephonic interview can be conducted for any number of candidates. This interview will be conducted by an interview committee consisting of one person from each region. Other members of the Address Council may be present at the teleconference, but they will not be allowed to ask questions or otherwise comment during the interview. Prior to the interview, each candidate will be provided with a list of questions to assist in their preparation for the interview. The committee may ask for answers to those questions or pose questions not previously provided to the interviewees. The interview committee will present a report of each interview conducted to the Address Council.

7.4.4.4. In Person Interview.

In person interviews will be conducted for no more than three candidates and by an interview committee consisting of one member from each region. Funding for the travel of the candidates and the interview committee will be provided by the NRO. If not all candidates can be present for the in person interview, the interview will be conducted for all of them telephonically. If the in person interview happens to coincide with an in person meeting of the Address Council, then the entire council may conduct the interview. Prior to the interview, each candidate will be provided with a list of questions to assist in their preparation for the interview. The committee may ask for answers to those questions or pose questions not previously provided to the interviewees. The interview committee will present a report of each interview conducted to the Address Council.

7.4.5. Selection Phase.

The period of the selection phase is 14 calendar days. It will start at the close of the interview phase. At the start point, the Address Council will meet to evaluate all of the candidates. It will review all documentation accumulated for each candidate. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Address Council will have 7 calendar days to continue its deliberations regarding the candidates. At the end of this 7 day period the members of the Address Council will have 7 calendar days to vote. The vote will be conducted electronically by plurality voting with secret ballot. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, a second round (runoff) election will be conducted considering only the candidates that received the highest and second highest number of votes, except that if more than one candidate tied for first place, then only the first place candidates will be considered. Additional rounds will be conducted in a similar manner if necessary until a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast. The votes will be tabulated by the Secretariat. The results will be provided to the Address Council Chair who will announce the results of the election. The total number of votes that each candidate received will be posted on the ASO web site.

7.4.6.

At the request of the Address Council Chair, the Secretariat will notify the Secretary of ICANN providing the name and contact information of the successful candidate.

7.5. Extraordinary Selection Procedure (ESP).

In the event a vacancy is created for one of the ASO designated seats if the ICANN Board of Directors by reason that the person in that seat is unable to complete the term; the Address Council will fill the vacancy using one of the procedures described below. The term of the person selected will be for the completion of the term of the vacated seat.

7.5.1. Selection from a previous candidate list.

Consideration will be given to any candidate in the most recently conducted General Selection Procedure who received at least one-third of all votes cast. All candidates who meet this criterion will be contacted by the Address Council Chair and asked if they are willing to serve out the remaining term. If there are no persons who meet this criterion or there are no respondents to the call of the Address Council Chair, the procedure described in paragraph 7.5.2 or 7.5.3 will be followed. If there are one or more candidates who respond to this call from the chair, the Address Council will conduct the selection following the procedure described in paragraph 7.4.5. If no person receives a favorable majority of the votes cast the Address Council will decide whether to follow the procedure described in paragraph 7.5.2 or 7.5.3.

7.5.2. Selection from publicly nominated persons.

At the request of the Address Council Chair, the Secretariat will issue a call for candidates. This announcement will contain instruction directing interested parties to the ASO website where they may obtain information regarding the selection process, candidate eligibility requirements, and the responsibilities upon selection. Anyone may nominate any person whom they wish. Self nominations will be accepted. Nominations will be sent to the Secretariat who will contact the nominee, notify them of their impending nomination, and provide them with a copy of the Letter of Certification and a general questionnaire. The nominee will complete the letter and questionnaire and return them to the Secretariat with in 15 calendar days. The Address Council will conduct the selection following the procedure described in paragraph 7.4.5.

7.5.3. Selection from Address Council nominated persons.

Members of the Address Council will nominate at least 2 candidates for the open seat. At the request of the Address Council Chair, the Secretariat will notify the potential candidates and direct them to the ASO website where they may obtain information regarding the selection process, candidate eligibility requirements, and the responsibilities upon selection. Upon acceptance of the nomination the Secretariat will provide each nominee with a copy of the Letter of Certification and a general questionnaire. The nominee will complete the letter and questionnaire and return them to the Secretariat with in 15 calendar days. The Address Council will conduct the selection following the procedure described in paragraph 7.4.5.

7.5.4.

At the request of the Address Council Chair, the Secretariat will notify the Secretary of ICANN providing the name and contact information of the successful candidate.