The ICANN CCWG - Accountability working group is quickly drafting and evaluating proposals for improving ICANN's accountability deficits. The CCWG's work has been divided into 2 work streams, with work stream 1 to be those accountability measures that must be in place or committed to before the IANA stewardship transition can occur. Work stream 2 includes all the other accountability improvements that need to be made at ICANN, but don't necessarily need to be done before the IANA stewardship transition can occur. So all of the workload is now focused on work stream 1 and the pace is fierce (with highly unrealistic deadlines from staff).

I'd like to encourage NCSG members to consider joining one (or more) of the various subgroups and work teams that are developing the specific proposals for accountability mechanisms to go into the CCWG's initial set of recommendations this summer. There are subteams to fix ICANN's Independent Review Process, its Reconsideration Review Process, reform the Ombudsman's office, create a contract to limit the scope of ICANN's mission, evaluate "stress tests" and more. But there is not much participation in the Working Party subteams and sub-groups - where the meat of the issues are being developed. There are large numbers of people in the main mailing lists, but most work is being done in the various working party subteams and subgroups.

These working groups can be joined by anyone - and anyone can contribute to the drafting, editing, proposing, advocating, etc. of the proposals for mechanisms to hold ICANN more accountable. This is exactly the opportunity our community has been asking for for many years. So let's take it. Please consider joining one of these various sub-teams and contributing to the development of one (or more) of the mechanisms for holding ICANN more accountable. These groups won't exist after a couple months, so it is NOT a long-term commitment. But the Internet will see long-term benefit from your engagement on these accountability measures.