Anyone who is interested in New gTLD Registry Public Interest Commitments (PICs) and Registry Voluntary Commitments (RVCs) should tune into the ICANN Board's Webinar tomorrow, Monday, 18 Dec, 19:00–20:30 UTC, link at https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-webinar-framework-for-public-interest-and-registry-voluntary-commitments-11-12-2023-en <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-webinar-framework-for-public-interest-and-registry-voluntary-commitments-11-12-2023-en> This is an issue to which NCSG and NCUC have devoted A LOT of time in the last decade. A dozen years ago, in the First Round of New gTLDs, some horrible "voluntary commitments" were submitted by New gTLD applicants and we have been concerned ever since. Undermining the public interest, undermining fair and balanced policies, and undermining the Multistakeholder Model must not be allowed in future "commitments." _A few of the many documents sharing our concerns: _ In the last two NCUC Anniversary Issues Forums, we actively shared concerns and urged ICANN to revisit the issue of PICs and RVCs - and our session at ICANN78 in Hamburg is recorded and available online. We are glad to see ICANN answering these calls! The Big Question Facing ICANN’s Contractual Governance Regime, Milton Mueller, _"Some interest groups (mainly Registries and GAC) want ICANN to be empowered to enforce compliance with Registry Voluntary Commitments (RVCs), formerly known as Public Interest Commitments (PICs). Civil society groups and some Internet businesses see in the proposed change a threat to freedom of expression on the internet and an attempt to undermine ICANN’s multistakeholder policy development process." _https://www.internetgovernance.org/2023/06/15/the-big-question-facing-icanns-contractual-governance-regime/ The Sad Story of Private Public Interest Commitments (PICs), Kathy Kleiman, https://circleid.com/posts/20200311-the-sad-story-of-private-public-interest-commitments-pics#fn6 --- The Webinar will most certainly be recorded if you cannot attend during this busy days. Happy Holidays! Kathy