Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content

ALAC Statement on the Implementation of IDN Variant Top Level Domains

Last Updated:
Date

Introduction

The following individuals composed an initial draft of this Statement [PDF, 357 KB] after discussion of the topic within At-Large and on the Mailing Lists:

  • Edmon Chung, At-Large member from the Asian, Australasian and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization (APRALO) and ALAC Liaison for IDNs; and
  • Rinalia Abdul Rahim, ALAC member from the APRALO and ALAC Executive Committee member.

On 10 June 2013, this Statement was posted on the ALAC Statement on the Implementation of IDN Variant Top Level Domains Workspace.

On 20 June 2013, Olivier Crépin-Leblond, Chair of the ALAC, requested ICANN Policy Staff in support of the ALAC to send a Call for Comments on the draft Statement to all At-Large members via the ALAC Announce mailing list.

On 24 June 2013, a version incorporating the comments received was posted and the Chair requested that Staff open a five-day ALAC ratification on the Statement.

On 29 June 2013, Staff confirmed that the online vote resulted in the ALAC endorsing the Statement with 11 votes in favor, 0 votes against, and 0 abstentions. You may review the result independently under: http://www.bigpulse.com/pollresults?code=3221GzpPDaqF8nvSQntAyCPH

The Chair then requested that the Statement be transmitted to the Public Comment process, copying the ICANN Staff member responsible for this Public Comment topic.

Summary

  1. Introduce IDN Variant TLDs carefully and implement complementary IDN policies concurrently to nurture the growth of the IDN market;
  2. Bundle the delegation of TLDs and variant TLDs appropriately to ensure consumer trust among the implicated user communities;
  3. Prepare user communities (both IDN users and non-IDN users) via dedicated outreach well in advance of IDN Variant TLD delegation;
  4. Demonstrate a strong commitment to multilingualism and facilitate the process of finding common ground between the technical and linguistic communities towards introducing IDN Variant TLDs without undermining the security and stability of the Domain Name System;
  5. Expedite the implementation of the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR) process in general and accelerate the delivery of the Han script rule-set given that its variants are well defined and understood; and
  6. Strengthen the Root Zone Label Generation Rules (LGR) process by involving the ICANN community in the governance oversight of the process as well as in the implementation planning and delivery of IDN Variant TLDs.  In addition: a) ensure that the Root Zone LGR process is accountable and transparent; b) address the weaknesses of the process that have been identified by the community; and c) improve the ICANN Public Comments process, which is a core feedback mechanism for the Root Zone LGR process.