ICANN AT-LARGE MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENT
In this issue:
- Action: Your input is needed on how to introduce more domain names
- Action: Internet governance report open for comments
- Meeting: Asia-Pacific At-Large groups to gather in Taipei on August 24
- Information: Steps you should take to guard against domain name hijacking
- Information: At-Large actions at recent ICANN Luxembourg meeting
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Information: .TRAVEL launched; .JOBS starting-up; .MOBI approved
- Action: Your input is needed on how to introduce more domain names The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) would like to hear your views on the process that should be used to introduce new top level domain names ("TLDs," such as .com, .museum, etc.). Although ICANN's Board passed a resolution in 2000 stating that "a policy be established for the introduction of new TLDs in a measured and responsible manner," ICANN is still grappling with how to develop a TLD introduction process that addresses numerous technical, economic, socio-political and cultural issues. The ALAC is developing detailed guidance for ICANN to help ensure that such a process meets individual Internet users' needs. The type of issues on which ICANN is seeking advice is posted at <http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-gTLD-questions.pdf>. The ALAC will post proposed input on its website. Please post your views to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
The ALAC has long advocated that it is time for ICANN to regularize the process of examination and approval of new TLD proposals, and has urged ICANN to move beyond testbeds and evaluations and permit those proposing new TLDs to put their plans into effect. Last year ICANN launched a limited process for selecting new sponsored TLDs (sTLDs) from a pool of ten applications. The ALAC recommended that, rather than restrict the applicant pool to a few sTLDs, ICANN create a quick, effective and uncontroversial process for the creation of any kind and number of new TLDs.
ICANN's Board has chosen to seek community input on a series of questions about the introduction of new TLDs before a process is developed and considered. The ALAC would like specific input from you on questions posted by ICANN (see initial questions at <http://www.icann.org/tlds/new-gTLD-questions.pdf>). The ALAC will post draft answers for your review (and additional information) on its website at <http://www.alac.icann.org/>.
- Action: Internet governance report open for comments The Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) released its report identifying Internet issues that should be addressed and offering potential "models" for dealing with them. The report, which was commissioned by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General, is available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish at <http://www.wgig.org/>. Comments to the report are welcomed, and it is important that the views of all stakeholders are heard. Email comments to the WSIS Executive Secretariat at <wsis-contributions@itu.int> by 15 August 2005, and copy the At-Large forum <forum@alac.icann.org>. Information on ALAC activities on Internet governance can be found at <http://www.alac.icann.org/wsis/>. A compilation of the contributions, together with the WGIG report, will be forwarded to PrepCom III, scheduled for 19-30 September 2005 (see <http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory2/pc3/index.html> for more information).
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Meeting: Asia-Pacific At-Large groups to gather in Taipei on August 24 All individuals involved in Internet user issues in the Asia/Australia/Pacific (AP) region, are invited to participate in an At-Large meeting scheduled for 24 August, in conjunction with the APAN conference in Taipei, Taiwan, 23-27 August 2005 (<http://apan.net/>). Meeting participants will work on plans to create an Asia-Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO), which will enable groups in this region to work together to advance Internet users' needs. For more information see <http://www.apralo.org/> or email <info@apralo.org>.
On 14 July 2005, representatives of groups involving individual Internet users in over 10 countries/regions in the Asia-Pacific region met during the ICANN Luxembourg meeting to discuss how to work together on their shared objectives. Meeting participants discussed their organization's priorities and how to form an APRALO to support their members' needs. More information is posted at <www.apralo.org>.
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Information: Steps you should take to guard against domain name hijacking A report recently released by ICANN's Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) found that domain name hijacking incidents are commonly the result of "flaws in registration and related processes, failure to comply with the transfer policy, and poor administration of domain names by registrars, resellers, and registrants." The SSAC recommended actions all registrants should take to prevent these incidents. Domain hijacking refers to the wrongful taking of control of a domain name from the rightful name holder. The report is posted at <http://www.icann.org/announcements/hijacking-report-12jul05.pdf>.
The SSAC report highlights the lasting and material effect domain name hijacking can have on a registrant including: loss of an established online identity; exposure to extortion by name speculators; and disruption of a registrant's business and operations (e.g. denial and theft of email services, eavesdropping, and web site defacement). In addition to recommending preventative actions for registrars and registries and ICANN, the report includes specific measures registrants should take to protect their registration information and name holder status. To educate yourself, see <http://www.icann.org/announcements/hijacking-report-12jul05.pdf>.
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Information: At-Large actions at recent ICANN Luxembourg meeting The ALAC issued three calls for action at ICANN's July meeting in Luxembourg to support individual Internet users' interests on: introduction of new gTLDs; how ICANN spends fees paid by domain name registrants; and measures to increase transparency and effective means of public participation.
To encourage the ICANN community to move forward on the introduction of new domain names and the use of internationalized domain names (IDNs) while protecting user interests, the ALAC called for separating the processes for the implementation of ASCII gTLDs and IDN gTLDs. More information is posted at <http://www.alac.icann.org/>.
The ALAC asked for representation on ICANN's Budget Advisory Group to help ensure that the revenues generated and spent, and the activities ICANN undertakes, reflect the needs of the global At-Large community. Although the money paid to ICANN each year ultimately comes from domain name registrants, they have no representation on the committee that proposes ICANN's annual budget and makes the initial decisions about ICANN's revenue, expenditures, programs, and services. More information is posted at <http://www.alac.icann.org/>.
To make it easier for the global At-Large community to participate in ICANN, the ALAC asked ICANN to take some specific steps, including: hiring a "Manager of Public Participation"; ensuring ICANN meetings are well coordinated and meeting information is published well in advance of the meetings; improving ICANN's website; and making the internal culture and operating practices of ICANN multilingual, including real-time translation of meetings and advance preparation of printed, translated documents for discussion. More information is posted at <http://www.alac.icann.org/>. - Information: .TRAVEL launched; .JOBS starting-up; .MOBI approved Thus far, ICANN's Board has designated three new sponsored top level domains (sTLDs): .TRAVEL, .JOBS and .MOBI. .TRAVEL has launched and is now in the root zone, and .JOBS is in its "start-up trade name period." ICANN's Board recently formalized the contract for .MOBI, which will proceed with its launch plans. Applicants for XXX, .CAT, and .POST are under "negotiation" with ICANN, and four other applications are under "consideration": .ASIA, .MAIL, .TEL-Pulver, and .TEL-Telnic. Information on the applications and the sTLD process can be found at <http://www.icann.org/tlds/stld-apps-19mar04/stld-public-comments.htm>.
The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee