Under the ICANN Bylaws, according to the Corporation, the Contracted Party House selects the individual to fill Board Seat 13, currently held by Bruce Tonkin. Tonkin’s term ends on April 30, 2010. The GNSO Council has adopted the selection process proposed by the Contracted Party House for the upcoming 2010 election. The public comment period ends on February 18, 2010.

The amended GNSO Operating Procedures regarding the Board Seat 13 selection process can be viewed at http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/gnso-operating-procedures-redline-28jan10-en.pdf. Comments can be submitted to op-procedures-amendment-2010@icann.org, and viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/op-procedures-amendment-2010/.

The ICANN Bylaws specify that the GNSO has the right to select two individuals to serve on the ICANN Board, commonly referred to as Board Seats 13 and 14. Under the Bylaws, the Contracted Party House selects Board Seat 13, and the Non-Contracted Party House selects Board Seat 14.

On January 28, 2010, the GNSO Council approved the process proposed by the Contracted Party House to select a representative to fill Board Seat 13 for the 2010 election, and amended its Operating Procedures to include this process and timeline.

Because the current term for Board Seat 13 expires at the end of April 2010, the GNSO Council is proposing an expedited process for the 2010 selection of Board Seat 13, but has also specifically reserved the right to modify the election procedures before the nomination period expires if public comments raise issues or matter that merit changes to the adopted processes. The GNSO Council also tasked the GNSO Operations Work Team with the responsibility of developing the procedures for future selection of Board Seats 13 and 14 to be included in the GNSO Operating Procedures.