ICANN Opens Comment Period for Ombuds Protocol

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will take comments from the public until April 12 on the revised Ombudsman Framework. The ICANN Ombuds program is based on the standards for Organizational Ombuds, but serves only external constituents. According to the Framework, the Ombuds has no jurisdiction over complaints concerning internal administrative matters or personnel issues. The ICANN Ombuds also loses jurisdiction if a complainant initiates a formal complaint process or legal proceeding. The ICANN Ombuds is authorized to issue written reports on individual matters and may waive confidentiality if necessary to further resolution of a complaint. Organizational Ombuds will be interested to compare these and other differences in their practice. (ICANN Announcement; Draft ICANN Ombudsman Framework.)