ICANN relies on its Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) for guidance and advice to the ICANN Board on public policy aspects of ICANN's work, particularly regarding the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS). Therefore, new GAC Members are always most welcome.

Membership is open to all national governments and distinct economies. There are no membership fees or charges. See the current membership and current leadership team.

This page and the documentation below provide all the information necessary to join as a new delegation to the GAC and  to manage delegates for current delegations.

 

Eligibility

Members of the GAC must be national governments, multinational governmental organizations and treaty organizations, or public authorities.  

Each may appoint one representative and one alternate representative to the GAC. The designated representative of a Member may also be accompanied by advisors on their delegation.

The representative, alternate, and advisors must hold a formal official position with the Member’s public administration. The term ‘official’ includes a holder of an elected governmental office or a person who is employed by such government, public authority, or multinational governmental or treaty organization, and whose primary function with such government, public authority, or organization is to develop or influence governmental or public policies.

For further details about GAC membership practices, please refer to the GAC Operating Principles.

 

Membership Procedures

This section outlines the process for both new Members joining the GAC and for managing changes to existing Member delegations (such as a change in a representative).

Changes to existing Members on a delegation generally follow the same procedures outlined below. In these cases, changes to delegates sent from the current representative shall be communicated directly to GAC Support staff. This provides staff the appropriate authority to process the changes to a delegation. 

In circumstances where the designated representative is changing, a letter from the current (outgoing) representative designating their replacement is strongly encouraged to maintain continuity of the delegation according to the GAC Operating Principles. 

Please review the membership instructions.

Please review and fill out, where appropriate, the Delegates Contact Information Form.

Should you have any questions after having reviewed the materials and procedures, please email join-gac at icann dot org.