Ahead of last week's ICANN meeting in Yokohama, Japan, however, controversy erupted when the group's staff proposed amending ICANN's bylaws not just to conduct the study but also to phase out the existence of the nine at-large directors within two years.

CNN: Group overseeing Internet changes sets its election rules

ICANN's asked its staff and legal counsel to report to it before its next meeting on the administrative, legal and financial issues this presents.

CNN: Group created to help ICANN manage the Internet

However, many involved in ICANN, including some members of the board and its staff, were never comfortable with the idea of the at-large seats.

CNN: Group overseeing Internet changes sets its election rules