ASO supports ICANN bylaw changes on IANA naming function reviews

The Address Supporting Organization (ASO) has supported amendments to Articles 17 and 18 of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers bylaws.

The decision was announced on 8 July 2026 by the Number Resource Organization Executive Council, known as the NRO EC. The NRO EC acted in relation to the ASO’s role as a Decisional Participant in the ICANN Empowered Community.

The amendments were approved by the ICANN Board on 3 May 2026. Because they concern ICANN Fundamental Bylaws, they also required review through the Empowered Community approval process.

The changes concern governance and review mechanisms linked to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority naming function. This is the part of IANA that supports the Domain Name System.

Article 17 covers the Customer Standing Committee (CSC). The CSC monitors the performance of the IANA naming function. The amendments update its operating rules. They introduce alternate CSC members and alternate liaisons, move certain operational details from the ICANN Bylaws to the CSC Charter, and extend the regular CSC effectiveness review cycle from 3 years to 5 years.

Article 17 still allows the ASO and the Number Resource Organization to appoint a liaison to the CSC. However, the CSC’s work remains focused on the IANA naming function. It does not cover internet number resources, such as IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers.

Article 18 covers IANA Naming Function Reviews, known as IFRs. These reviews assess the IANA naming function. The amendment changes how the five-year review cycle is calculated. Future cycles will begin when the previous IFR team submits its final report to the ICANN Board, rather than when the previous review team was first convened.

The amendment does not change the purpose, scope, composition or powers of the IFR.

The Regional Internet Registry community was informed about the process through earlier notices. An Approval Action Community Forum was held during ICANN 86. The decision period ended on 2 July 2026.

After reviewing the amendments, the NRO EC said there were no substantive concerns from the Regional Internet Registry community. It also concluded that the amendments do not create new obligations or operational effects for the ASO, the NRO, the Regional Internet Registries or the internet number resources community.

In practical terms, the decision means that the ASO will not oppose the ICANN bylaw amendments. The changes mainly adjust how ICANN oversees and reviews the IANA naming function. They do not change how internet number resources are managed.

The ASO EC Administration Representative has notified the ICANN Empowered Community Administration of the ASO’s support for the approval action.