For the benefit of those in NCSG not familiar with the history or 
technical details here let me see if I understand this correctly (in 
layman’s/layperson’s terms). The ICANN board can request an Issue Report 
on a policy issue and the GNSO Council cannot reject that request. The 
Issue Report, once produced and accepted, also requires that the GNSO 
Council initiate a Policy Development Process (PDP) based on the content 
of the Issue Report.

Is this a correct characterization of the process? If so, is it correct 
that the scope and focus (charter?) for the resulting PDP get refined in 
the deliberations in the development of the Issue Report? If this is 
correct what is the dialogue between the GNSO Council and the Board 
within the development of the Issue Report? Since the GNSO Council is 
bound to initiate a PDP based on the Issue Report, does the Board have 
the ability to reject, or refer back, a GNSO Council produced Issue 
Report? If yes, this seems to leave the Board in the driver’s seat with 
regard to PDP scope and focus. If no, while the GNSO Council must 
initiate the PDP, it leaves the GNSO Council in the driver’s seat with 
regard to PDP scope and focus.

In either case the Board has the power to initiate the process. Does it 
have the power to stop the process (by objecting to the Issue Report)? 
What have I got right and got wrong here?

Sam L.