- ICANN invites public comment on a Functional Model that proposes a Root Server System Council with balanced representation and key governance functions.
- The phased model aims to bolster accountability, transparency and operational stability for the DNS root servers, with consultation open until 22 September 2025.
What happened: ICANN opens consultation on new DNS root server governance model
ICANN has launched a Public Comment period on a Functional Model for governance of the DNS Root Server System, developed by its Root Server System Governance Working Group (GWG) in response to advice from the Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC). The model proposes establishing a Root Server System Council comprised of one voting representative from each of the 12 Root Server Operators (including RIPE NCC as operator of K-root) and an equal number of representatives—six each—from the ccTLD and gTLD communities. In addition, three liaison members from the IETF, IANA and the Root Zone Maintainer would attend without voting rights. The Council would oversee essential functions such as strategy and architecture, finance and resource management, performance monitoring, security incident reporting, and selection or removal of operators. Consultation began on 11 August 2025 and closes on 22 September 2025, followed by ICANN’s summary report scheduled for publication on 6 October.
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Why this is important
Global DNS resolution and internet stability is provided by the root server system, but its administration has typically relied on informal sources operator coordination. By integrating accountability and transparency into a vital internet infrastructure, this deliberate and phased governance model provides a necessary evolution. It strikes an important balance between retaining the autonomous status of individual root server operators and reflecting the community’s desire for formal decision-making and oversight, as focused on in previous RSSAC success criteria documents. In sustaining with its guiding ideals, ICANN reaffirms its fidelity to bottom-up techniques and multistakeholder governance by applying for public input.
On the plus side, this action is both sensible and timely. By defining distinct roles—such as reporting security incidents and performance monitoring—within an accountable framework, it proactively reduces performance and security risks. Imbued governance guarantees preparedness and resilience as the internet grows and encounters new threats. Incorporating domain registry communities alongside technical actors promotes greater accountability and more accurately captures the decentralised character of internet governance. In the end, implementing this model might act as a template for other intricate internet systems looking for open multistakeholder governance.
