ICANN AT-LARGE MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENT
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EVALUATION OF NEW TLDs – ICANN just posted an evaluation of the process used to select the seven new top-level domains (TLDs): .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name and .pro. The selection of these TLDs in November 2000 was the first effort to expand the domain name system (DNS) since the 1980s (other than by adding country code top-level domains). The report addresses key questions ranging from the effectiveness of intellectual property protections to regulatory issues. It is part of ICANN’s effort to evaluate the “proof-of-concept” under which the new domains were introduced, and to define a new strategy by 30 September 2004 for selecting additional top-level domains. The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) has been pressing user concerns on this issue and wants your comments. Post them via email to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
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WHO WILL OPERATE THE .NET REGISTRY NEXT YEAR? – ICANN’s GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization) recently issued recommendations on how ICANN should designate a .net Registry Operator next year. The GNSO Council, which includes an At-Large liaison, recommended criteria and conditions which should be applied in the selection of a successor registry operator. (Verisign’s agreement to operate the .net registry expires 30 June 2005.) The GNSO report, which is posted at <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/dotnet/dotnet-reportv9.pdf>, includes such criteria as keeping .net un-restricted, allowing existing registrants to maintain their .net registrations, and maximizing choice for domain name system users (promoting competition in the registration of domain names). It remains silent, however, on whether the registry should be “thin” (registrants’ personal data remains with the registrar) or “thick” (registrants’ personal data also is kept by the registry, and the registry's WHOIS service publishes this data). Do you have an opinion? Post your views via email to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
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AT-LARGE COMING TO A COUNTRY NEAR YOU – ALAC members and At-Large community leaders invite you to meet them at, and/or participate in, events scheduled this fall to share information and expand user involvement in ICANN. In the Asia/Australia/Pacific region, Hong Xue, Tommy Matsumoto, and Izumi Aizu will participate in: the International Symposium on Public Participation in Internet Governance in Seoul, Korea, on October 26, 2004; and the AP At-Large Meeting, Seoul, Korea, on October 27, 2004; and meetings of AP At-Large groups will be scheduled soon. In Europe, Vittorio Bertola or Roberto Gaetano will participate in: Consultations on the establishment of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), Geneva, Switzerland, 20-21 September; the 23rd CENTR General Assembly, Yerevan, Armenia, 21-22 September; and “The Debate on Internet Governance: What's at Stake?”, London, UK, 24 September (at which Esther Dyson will speak). In Latin America, look for ALAC member Erick Iriarte at the IV Congrès Mondial de droit de l’informatique Alfa-Redi, Cuzco, Perou, 11-15 October; and more events will be added to the schedule in this region this fall. In Africa, Pierre Dandjinou will be at ACT 2004 -- African Computing & Telecommunications Summit, Mauritius, 7-9 September; and the Worldwide Forum on E-Democracy, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France, 29-30 September. To meet-up with an ALAC member, send an email to <committee@alac.icann.org>. See <http://www.alac.icann.org/calendar.htm> for more events and information.
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AT-LARGE CONTINUES TO GROW – Thus far, 16 groups have been certified as At-Large Structures in an effort to help individual Internet user communities throughout the world participate in ICANN activities and decision-making that affect them. In addition, five organizations have At-Large Structure applications pending. Join a group or form a new one. Information is posted at <www.alac.icann.org/announcements/announcement-24sep03.htm> and <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>.
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EVALUATION OF NEW TLDs – ICANN just posted for public comment an evaluation of the process used to select the seven new top level domains (TLDs): .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name and .pro. The selection of these TLDs in November 2000 was the first effort to expand the domain name system (DNS) since the 1980s (other than by adding country code top-level domains). The report addresses key questions ranging from the effectiveness of intellectual property protections to regulatory issues. It is part of ICANN’s effort to evaluate the “proof-of-concept” under which the new domains were introduced, and to define a new strategy by 30 September 2004 for selecting additional top-level domains. The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) has been pressing user concerns on this issue and wants your comments. Post them via email to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
Shortly before the first of the new gTLDs were launched in September 2001, the ICANN Board decided that it was important to evaluate the “proof-of-concept” under which they were introduced. A Task Force determined the scope of the evaluation and selected priority questions to be the focus of the evaluation, including seven addressing: the effectiveness of intellectual property protections, compliance with registration restrictions, competition, the reasonableness of the legal framework, and regulatory issues. The report, which was prepared by an independent consultant, has been posted at <www.icann.org>.
The report is part of ICANN’s effort to evaluate the “proof-of-concept” under which the new domains were introduced, and to define a new strategy for selecting and implementing additional top-level domains. In ICANN’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Commerce, ICANN is committed to “Define and implement a predictable strategy for selecting new TLDs using straightforward, transparent, and objective procedures that preserve the stability of the Internet (strategy development to be completed by September 30, 2004 and implementation to commence by December 31, 2004).”
The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) has asked ICANN staff for more information on plans and timelines for selecting new TLDs. Please share your views via email to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
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WHO WILL OPERATE THE .NET REGISTRY NEXT YEAR? – ICANN’s GNSO (Generic Names Supporting Organization) recently issued recommendations on how ICANN should designate a .net Registry Operator next year. The GNSO Council, which includes an At-Large liaison, recommended criteria and conditions which should be applied in the selection of a successor registry operator. (Verisign’s agreement to operate the .net registry expires 30 June 2005.) The GNSO report, which is posted at <http://gnso.icann.org/issues/dotnet/dotnet-reportv9.pdf>, includes such criteria as keeping .net un-restricted, allowing existing registrants to maintain their .net registrations, and maximizing choice for domain name system users (promoting competition in the registration of domain names). It remains silent, however, on whether the registry should be “thin” (registrants’ personal data remains with the registrar) or “thick” (registrants’ personal data also is kept by the registry, and the registry's WHOIS service publishes this data). Do you have an opinion? Post your views via email to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
ICANN must adopt an “open, transparent procedure for designating a successor Registry Operator by no later than one year prior to the end of the agreement” [with Verisign], which would be 30 June 2004. The Board requested the advise of the GNSO, asking it to issue a “consensus statement defining criteria and conditions to be applied in the selection of a successor registry operator”. After posting a draft report and seeking public comments, the final report was approved by the GNSO Council (which includes an At-Large liaison) as a consensus statement by more than a two-thirds majority vote. Comments to the GNSO report can be viewed at <http://forum.icann.org/lists/net-final-criteria>. More information on ALAC actions is posted at <http://www.alac.icann.org/gtld/>.
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AT-LARGE COMING TO A COUNTRY NEAR YOU – ALAC members and At-Large community leaders invite you to meet them at, and/or participate in, events scheduled this fall to share information and expand user involvement in ICANN. In the Asia/Australia/Pacific region Hong Xue, Tommy Matsumoto, and Izumi Aizu will participate in: the International Symposium on Public Participation in Internet Governance in Seoul, Korea, on October 26, 2004; and the AP At-Large Meeting, Seoul, Korea, on October 27, 2004; and meetings of AP At-Large groups will be scheduled soon. In Europe, Vittorio Bertola or Roberto Gaetano will participate in: Consultations on the establishment of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG), Geneva, Switzerland, 20-21 September; the 23rd CENTR General Assembly, Yerevan, Armenia, 21-22 September; and “The Debate on Internet Governance: What's at Stake?”, London, UK, 24 September (at which Esther Dyson will speak). In Latin America, look for ALAC member Erick Iriarte at the IV Congrès Mondial de droit de l’informatique Alfa-Redi, Cuzco, Perou, 11-15 October; and more events will be added to the schedule in this region this fall. In Africa, Pierre Dandjinou will be at ACT 2004 -- African Computing & Telecommunications Summit, Mauritius, 7-9 September; and the Worldwide Forum on E-Democracy, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, France, 29-30 September. To meet-up with an ALAC member, send an email to <committee@alac.icann.org>. See <http://www.alac.icann.org/calendar.htm> for more events and information.
The At-Large calendar posted on this page contains links to the above events and many others that may be of interest to the At-Large community. These events are not sponsored by, nor endorsed by, the ALAC.
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AT-LARGE CONTINUES TO GROW – Thus far, 16 groups have been certified as At-Large Structures in an effort to help individual Internet user communities throughout the world participate in ICANN activities and decision-making that affect them. In addition, five organizations have At-Large Structure applications pending. Join a group or form a new one. Information is posted at <www.alac.icann.org/announcements/announcement-24sep03.htm> and <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>.
The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee