ICANN AT-LARGE MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENT

In this issue:

• REGISTRY SERVICES -- Input is needed on procedures for allowing changes in the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. How should ICANN handle Verisign's "Sitefinder" and similar registry changes? What is in the best interest of individual Internet users? <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>
• USER COMMUNITY & WSIS -- ALAC urges full particiation of the global user community in the United Nations' Internet discussions. A draft statement from the Committee encourages the UN to reverse its practice of excluding users. What do you think? <www.alac.icann.org/wsis/>
• AT-LARGE STRUCTURES -- The first set of At-Large Structures have been certified by the ALAC to advance individual user community's informed, structured participation in ICANN. More are pending. Join a group or form a new one <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>
• ICANN ROME MEETING -- ICANN's meeting in Rome (2-6 March) will feature multiple At-Large events and policy discussions on Whois and Registry Services. All are welcome <www.icann.org/meetings/rome/>

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• REGISTRY SERVICES -- Input is needed on procedures for allowing changes in the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. How should ICANN handle Verisign's "Sitefinder" and similar registry changes? What is in the best interest of individual Internet users? <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>
  
  The ALAC is participating (and representing individual Internet users) in the GNSO Task Force on Registry Services, which is creating a proposed policy for the process by which ICANN considers requests to allow changes in the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry. This policy development process was launched as part of ICANN's further evaluation and study of the issues surrounding Verisign Registry's re-direction of queries for non-existant domain names ("Sitefinder").
  
  The ALAC recently submitted a statement to the task force and is encourageing comments on these remarks, or other statements/issues related to the task force's work. Background information can be found at <www.alac.icann.org/registry/>. To share your views, send an email to the At-Large public forum <forum@alac.icann.org>.
• USER COMMUNITY & WSIS -- ALAC urges full particiation of the global user community in the United Nations' Internet discussions. A draft statement from the Committee encourages the UN to reverse its practice of excluding users. What do you think? <www.alac.icann.org/wsis/>
  
  The ALAC recently released a draft statement regarding the United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in which governments are attempting to address a broad range of international legal, regulatory, economic, and policy issues related to the Internet. The Committee urged that the technical management of the Internet remain, as much as possible, with the private sector and civil society (or providers and users of the specific services) and include governmental participation only as overseer and ultimate guarantor of the public interest. ALAC members volunteered to participate in upcoming WSIS working group activities to help ensure that the voices of the global user community are heard on Internet name and address resource management issues.
  
  Background information can be found at . To share your views on WSIS and related issues, send an email to the At-Large public forum <forum@alac.icann.org>.
• AT-LARGE STRUCTURES -- The first set of At-Large Structures have been certified by the ALAC to advance individual user community's informed, structured participation in ICANN. More are pending. Join a group or form a new one <www.alac.icann.org/applications/>
  
  The ALAC welcomes the following groups, which were certified as At-Large Structures, and looks forward to working with them to advance user community interests in ICANN:
  
  
  • Societa' Internet (Region: Europe)
  • Arab Knowledge Management Society (Region: Asia/Australia/Pacific)
  • Alfa-Redi (Region: Latin America/Caribbean Islands)
  • Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft e.V (Region: Europe)
  • Internet Society Luxembourg A.S.B.L. (Region: Europe)
  • Internet Society Bulgaria (Region: Europe)
  More applications are pending, see <www.alac.icann.org/applications/> for a complete list.
  
  Groups throughout the world (either existing organizations or newly formed for this purpose) that focus on participation by individual Internet users and deal with ICANN issues are encouraged to register and participate in ICANN by submitting a simple application form (available at <www.alac.icann.org/correspondence/structures-app.htm>). Groups that meet the minimum requirements will be certified as "At-Large Structures." For more information about At-Large Structure certification, send an email to <als@alac.icann.org>).
• ICANN ROME MEETING -- ICANN's meeting in Rome (2-6 March) will feature multiple At-Large events and policy discussions on Whois and Registry Services. All are welcome <www.icann.org/meetings/rome/>
  
  Information on the meeting venue, schedule, and other details, are (or soon will be) available at the above URL.
  
  The ALAC will be hosting the following events in Rome:
  
  
  • At-Large Meeting
  • At-Large Organizing Workshops (Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.)
  • WSIS Discussion
  The At-Large community is encouraged to participate in these events, as well as other activities, including policy discussions on Whois (domain name registration data base) and registry services. Check the ALAC website soon for more details (<http://www.atlarge.icann.org/>.

We look forward to working with you, and hearing from you.

~ The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee
alac@icann.org
http://www.atlarge.icann.org/

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