ICANN AT-LARGE MONTHLY ANNOUNCEMENT
In this issue:
- Action: Sex in the Net -- Debate over .XXX continues as ICANN's Board defers action. What’s your opinion?
- Action: Dot What? How should more top level domain names be introduced?
- Meeting: Join us in Vancouver! ICANN At-Large invites you to join the debates about the Internet’s future.
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Information: Asia/Pacific user groups are forming a Regional At-Large Organization
- Action: Sex in the Net -- Debate over .XXX continues as ICANN's Board defers action. What’s your opinion?
ICANN’s Board was scheduled in August to vote on final approval of the .XXX sponsored top level domain (sTLD), but deferred action in response to a request from the .XXX applicant, ICM. ICANN also received separate requests from ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee (GAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce to allow time for “additional governmental and public policy concerns to be expressed.” The Board agreed to ICM’s request to defer action and placed .XXX on its 15 September 2005 meeting agenda.
While the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) has long advocated that ICANN regularize the process of examination and approval of new top level domain (TLD) proposals and permit those proposing new TLDs to put their plans into effect, the ALAC has taken no position on .XXX or the Board’s last minute decision to defer final action. This matter has been widely discussed in the press and is viewed by some as a test of the integrity of ICANN’s process for introducing new domain names. Do you agree with the Board’s decision to consider more input? Is .XXX unique or are there lessons to be learned from its approval process that should be applied to future domain name introductions? Send your views to the At-Large public forum: <forum@alac.icann.org>. Additional information can be found at: <http://www.icmregistry.com/> (ICM); <http://www.icann.org/tlds/stld-apps-19mar04/stld-public-comments.htm> (ICANN); and <http://www.alac.icann.org/gtld/> (ALAC). -
Dot What? How should more top level domain names be introduced?
While you are thinking about .XXX, also give some thought to new domain names in general, and what ICANN should do next on TLD introductions. ICANN wants to take the lessons learned from past TLD introductions, along with community input, and develop a new process for introducing TLDs. 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 (<http://www.alac.icann.org/>). Please post your views to <forum@alac.icann.org>.
The ALAC has pushed ICANN to regularize the process of examining and approving 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 (<http://www.icann.org/tlds/stld-apps-19mar04/stld-public-comments.htm>). 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.
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>).
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Meeting: Join us in Vancouver! ICANN At-Large invites you to join the debates about the Internet’s future.
You are invited to join the ICANN community in Vancouver, Canada 30 November – 4 December, and participate in several meetings and fora on issues that affect the Internet's end-users. If you are interested in seeing more new top level domain names, using domain names in your own (non-English) language, protecting your personal information listed in WHOIS databases, and advancing individual users’ Internet interests in other areas, you won’t want to miss this meeting. You can attend in person or follow some proceedings via the Internet. Participation is free and Internet users are encouraged to come!! Check <http://www.icann.org/meetings/vancouver/> for general information and <http://www.alac.icann.org/> for details on At-Large-related events.
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Information: Asia/Pacific user groups are forming a Regional At-Large Organization
All individuals involved in Internet user issues in the Asia/Australia/Pacific (AP) region, are invited to participate in efforts to launch an Asia-Pacific Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO). Representatives of user groups involved in ICANN At-Large met last month during the APAN meeting in Taiwan to develop a charter, bylaws, and outreach plans aimed at enabling user groups in this region to work together to advance Internet users’ needs. Follow-up meetings/conference calls are being planned for September in Hanoi and November/December in Vancouver. More information is posted at <http://www.apralo.org/>. Send questions to <info@apralo.org>.
The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee