[council] Digital Archery Suspended

[Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-23jun12-en.htm

Digital Archery Suspended

23 June 2012

Operation of the digital archery portion of the New Generic Top-level Domain 
Program has been suspended.
 
The primary reason is that applicants have reported that the timestamp system 
returns unexpected results depending on circumstances.  Independent analysis 
also confirmed the variances, some as a result of network latency, others as a 
result of how the timestamp system responds under differing circumstances.
 
The timestamp window was due to close on 28 June.  As of 23 June, approximately 
20 percent of applications had a registered timestamp.
 
Given public comment regarding the timestamp process and that many applicants 
had yet to register a timestamp, the decision was taken to suspend the system 
now, pending further analysis of the process.
 
The evaluation process will continue to be executed as designed.  Independent 
firms are already performing test evaluations to promote consistent application 
of evaluation criteria.  The time it takes to delegate TLDs will depend on the 
number and timing of batches.
 
The suspension provides time to investigate technical concerns.  ICANN's staff 
and Board will continue to listen to community comment about digital archery 
and batching.
 
The information gathered from community input to date and here in Prague will 
be weighed by the New gTLD Committee of the Board.  The Committee will work to 
ensure that community sentiment is fully understood and to avoid disruption to 
the evaluation schedule.