[announce] Public Comments Requested on Initial Draft Fast-Track Mechanism for ,Introduction of a Limited Number of IDN ccTLDs

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*Public Comments Requested on Initial Draft Fast-Track Mechanism for
Introduction of a Limited Number of IDN ccTLDs*
<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-01feb08.htm>
<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-31jan08.htm>

This is a first Discussion Draft of the Initial Report of the IDNC
Working Group (IDNC WG). It is published for comment and input from the
ICANN community.
The Introduction of a Limited Number of IDN ccTLDs Under A Fast Track
Mechanism:
Draft Initial Report of the IDNC Working Group [PDF, 43K]
http://ccnso.icann.org/workinggroups/draft-initial-report-idnc-wg-01feb08.pdf
Public Comments reqeusted by 26 February 2008

This is a first Discussion Draft of the Initial Report of the IDNC
Working Group (IDNC WG). It is published for comment and input from the
ICANN community. This document has not been signed-off on by the IDNC
Working Group whose members will continue to provide their own comments
and input during this consultation period.

The IDNC WG was charted by ICANN's Board to develop and report on
feasible methods, if any, that would enable the introduction, in a
timely manner and in a manner that ensures the continued security and
stability of the Internet, of a limited number of non-contentious IDN
ccTLDs, associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes (both the
official code list of ISO 3166-1 and the list of reserved ISO 3166-1
code elements), while the overall IDN ccTLD policy is being developed.

The scope of the IDNC WG is limited to developing feasible methods (for
the introduction of a limited number of IDN ccTLDs) that do not pre-empt
the policy outcomes of the IDN cc Policy Development Process (ccPDP) for
which an Issue Report is currently being prepared. In preparing the
ccPDP Issue Report, the Issue Manager will identify policies,
procedures, and/or by-laws that need to be reviewed and, if necessary
revised, in connection with the development and implementation of any
IDN ccTLD policy. Further, the Issue Manager will take into account the
joint ccNSO GAC Issues Paper, input from other ICANN Supporting
Organisations and Advisory Committees, public comments, technical
limitations and requirements including the IDNA Guidelines, and any
other matters that the Issue Manager considers to be of relevance.

Under the IDNC WG charter, in considering feasible fast track methods,
the IDNC WG must take into account and be guided by:

    * The overarching requirement to preserve the security and
stability of the DNS;
    * Compliance with the IDNA protocols;
    * Input and advice from the technical community in respect to the
implementation of IDNs;
    * Current practices for the delegation of ccTLDs.

The fast track approach requires two specific mechanisms which are
addressed in this report:

   1. A mechanism for the selection of the IDN ccTLD string (See
Section 3 of the report); and
   2. A mechanism to designate an IDN ccTLD manager (See Section 4 of
the report).

The purpose of this report is to inform and report to the community on
the topics and issues as identified by the IDNC WG that need to be
considered in developing each of the two mechanisms, and to seek input
and comments on them. This report, and the comments received, will be
used to structure and propose potential mechanisms in the next phase of
the fast track (See Section 5 of the report for the Interim Report
Schedule). As stated above, the outcome of the fast track cannot
pre-empt the outcome of the ccPDP. All of the issues/topics raised
regarding the fast track mechanisms also are being raised under the
ccPDP. Thus, the solutions reached for the purposes of the fast track,
out of necessity, have to be as limited as possible.

Comments on this report are encouraged to be submitted by 26 February
2008 via email to idn-cctld-fast-track@xxxxxxxxxx An archive of all
comments received will be publicly posted at
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-cctld-fast-track/.

Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat - ICANN
gnso.secretariat[at]gnso.icann.org
http://gnso.icann.org