Ballot 149 – Membership Criteria Clarification

Ballot overview

• Ballot 149, Membership Criteria Clarification, was voted on and the page states that voting has closed.
• The ballot concerns revisions to Forum Membership Bylaw 2.1.

Outcome

• The page states that the Forum received 17 YES votes from CA members, 3 YES votes from Browser members, 3 abstain votes from CA members, and 0 NO votes.
• The page states that the ballot passes.

Main changes in the motion

• Clarifies the criteria for Forum membership for Issuing CA, Root CA, and Browser members.
• For Issuing CA and Root CA applicants, the organization must have a current and successful WebTrust for CAs audit, or ETSI 102042 or ETSI 101456 audit report, prepared by a properly-qualified auditor.
• For Issuing CA applicants, the organization must actively issue certificates to web servers that are openly accessible from the Internet using a mainstream browser created by a Browser member.
• For Root CA applicants, the organization must actively issue certificates to subordinate CAs that in turn actively issue certificates to web servers that are openly accessible from the Internet using a mainstream browser created by a Browser member.
• Applicants that are not actively issuing certificates but otherwise meet membership criteria may be granted Associate Member status under Bylaw Sec. 3.1 for a period of time to be designated by the Forum.
• Browser members are defined as organizations that produce a software product intended for use by the general public for browsing the Web securely.
• Applicants should provide specified information, including confirmation of eligibility, audit report URL, organization name, main website URL, forum mailing list contacts, emergency contact information, and links or references to issued certificates showing compliance with applicable certificate, CRL, and OCSP requirements.

Timing stated in the ballot text

• The review period was to commence at 18:00 UTC on June 26, 2015 and close at 18:00 UTC on July 3, 2015.
• The voting period was to start immediately thereafter and close at 18:00 UTC on July 10, 2015.