  The construction of a global network of detectors is the cornerstone to
scientific success for 3rd generation gravitational wave astronomy. If carried
out with a vision to the future, the third generation implementation, in its
infrastructure, technology base and governance can provide the point of
departure for subsequent developments beyond the third generation, a path to
the long and revolutionary future of gravitational wave astrophysics. The goal
of this document is to lay out considerations that influence the optimal choice
of governance and to lay out a possible path that can lead the community to an
optimal governance model.
  This report is the six in a six part series of reports by the GWIC 3G
Subcommittee: i) Expanding the Reach of Gravitational Wave Observatories to the
Edge of the Universe, ii) The Next Generation Global Gravitational Wave
Observatory: The Science Book, iii) 3G R&D: R&D for the Next Generation of
Ground-based Gravitational Wave Detectors, iv) Gravitational Wave Data
Analysis: Computing Challenges in the 3G Era, v) Future Ground-based
Gravitational-wave Observatories: Synergies with Other Scientific Communities,
and vi) An Exploration of Possible Governance Models for the Future Global
Gravitational-Wave Observatory Network (this report).
