[governance] Invitation to join New TLD Policy Development discussions

[Danny Younger]

You are cordially invited to participate in a policy
development process initiated by ICANN's Generic Names
Supporting Organization on new TLDs.  You may
participate via your own ICANN constituency (if you
have one) of via discussions that have started on the
"General Assembly" list.

[Note:  To subscribe to the General Assembly list,
please send an email to majordomo at dnso.org with the
words subscribe ga in the body of the message.]

On Friday 2 December 2005, the GNSO Council voted to
implement a Policy Development Process on New TLDS. 
This vote starts the clock ticking.  The Council
decided not to convene a task force, but rather, to
convene a Committee of the Whole to handle this PDP. 
Per the bylaws, the GNSO Policy Development Process
requires that all Constituency Statements and Public
Comment Statements be submitted to the Staff Manager
within thirty-five
calendar days after initiation of the PDP.

We have 32 days left to prepare and submit a
statement.

The Terms of Reference for the PDP are divided into
four sections (listed below).  I propose the following
-- we use a week to discuss/debate each of the
sections and the remaining days to draft a statement. 
Each week I will draft a synopsis of the discussions
for further comment.

The first section states:

"1. Should new generic top level domain names be
introduced? 
  
a. Given the information provided here and any other
relevant information available to the GNSO, the GNSO
should assess whether there is sufficient support
within the Internet community to enable the
introduction of new top level
domains. If this is the case the following additional
terms of reference are applicable." 

-- This will be our topic for this week on the GA list
-- should new TLDs be introduced?

The remainder of the terms of reference:

2.  Selection Criteria for New Top Level Domains 

a.  [Taking into account ] the existing selection
criteria from previous top level domain application
processes and relevant criteria in registry services
re-allocations, develop modified or new criteria which
specifically address ICANN's goals of expanding the
use and usability of
the Internet. In particular, examine ways in which the
allocation of new top level domains can meet demands
for broader use of the Internet in developing
countries. 

b.  Examine whether preferential selection criteria 
(e.g. sponsored) could be developed which would
encourage new and innovative ways of addressing the
needs of Internet users. 

c.  Examine whether additional criteria need to be
developed which address ICANN's goals of ensuring the
security and stability of the Internet. 

3.  Allocation Methods for New Top Level Domains 

a.  Using the experience gained in previous rounds,
develop  allocation methods for selecting new top
level domain names. 

b.  Examine the full range of allocation methods
including auctions, ballots, first-come first-served
and
comparative evaluation to determine the methods of
allocation that best enhance user choice while not
compromising predictability and stability. 

c.  Examine how allocation methods could be used to
achieve ICANN's goals of fostering competition in
domain name
registration services and encouraging a diverse range
of registry services providers. 

4   Policy to Guide Contractual Conditions for New Top
Level Domains 

a.  Using the experience of previous rounds of top
level domain name application processes and the recent
amendments to registry services agreements, develop
policies to
guide the contractual criteria which are publicly
available prior to any application rounds. 

b.  Determine what policies are necessary to provide
security and stability of registry services. 

c.  Determine appropriate policies to guide a
contractual compliance programme for registry
services.  




		
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