[council] Announcement from JAS working group

[Rafik Dammak <rafik.dammak@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

regarding the JAS working, an announcement was just posted at ICANN website
about the milestone report
http://icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-11nov10-en.htm

Regards

Rafik

Developing Economies and the New gTLD Program

11 November 2010

A message from the JAS WG:

The *Milestone 
Report<http://icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/jas-milestone-report-11nov10-en.pdf>
* [PDF, 1.2 MB] and accompanying
Addenda<http://icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/jas-milestone-report-addenda-10nov10-en.pdf>
[PDF,
1.07 MB] published for public comment today deals with a very important
issue: *how can ICANN assist applicants from developing economies to
increase their participation in the new generic Top-Level Domain (New gTLD)
Program?*

A Working Group (WG) formed by ICANN stakeholders has been working since
April 2010 to address this issue. This followed a
Resolution<http://icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm>
from
ICANN Board of Directors in Nairobi, on March 2010 that asked ICANN’s
stakeholder community

*"...to develop a sustainable approach to providing support to applicants
requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs."*

Here are some basic aspects of this important work.

   1. *What is this all about? What is a Milestone Report?*

   The Milestone Report is a document produced by this Working Group that
   offers recommendations on how ICANN should develop a sustainable approach to
   providing support to applicants from developing economies requiring
   assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs Registries. The Report
   proposes initial criteria for qualification as well as several other types
   of support to be considered, for example, technical, informational.

   Although this work presents the foundation for ICANN to establish a *Support
   Development Program* dedicated to this issue, the work is not final yet.
   This report is going to be considered by the Board, staff and ICANN’s
   supporting chartering organizations.

   This initiative is related to the New gTLD Program, which in the near
   future will allow entities from around the world to apply for a generic
   top-level domain. The applicants passing the evaluation process, will sign a
   contract with ICANN and run a Registry.
   2. *Who is being considered to receive support? Who benefits from this?*

   The Working Group is proposing the following group to be eligible for
   support once the "need" criterion is met:
   - Community-based applications such as cultural, linguistic and ethnic;
      - Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), civil society and
      not-for-profit organizations;
      - Applicants geographically located in emerging markets/developing
      countries;
      - Applications in languages whose presence on the web is limited;
      - Entrepreneurs wanting to serve a developing market that might not be
      sustainable under the current cost structure.

   At this phase, the Working Group has not adopted any specific
   classification for developing economies and recommends using a
   classification that is internationally agreed upon, for example, G-77 or
   United Nations or World Bank classifications.

   We all benefit from this initiative. The Internet belongs to all as well
   as the responsibility to look into effective ways to reduce the Digital
   Divide, in this particular case, by delivering a sustainable and critical
   support for applicants from developing economies and looking for a solution
   not only at the application phase but also through to the initial years of
   these new Registry operators.
   3. *Why is it important?*

   It is important because the Internet is a virtual real estate that
   belongs to everyone. Entities from around the world should be able to
   increase their participation in the top-level expansion. The Working Group
   also stresses it is important not only to increase participation from
   developing economies, but also to increase the likelihood of success by
   these new participants that will be delivering Domain Name Services (DNS).

   The current New gTLD Program, as design, has an evaluation (and several
   other fees) that are considered high for a significant number of potential
   participants from around the world. Besides the issue of high fees, the
   program is in English only and has an evaluation process with criteria and
   requirements that are quite complex to navigate.
   4. *What are the highlights of this report?*

   This report approached the issue of accessibility from several angles.
   First, there are recommendations to lower the fees for applicants the meet
   the criteria recommended by this group. The initial focus is on a relatively
   limited and identifiable set of potential applicants that is often
   considered not controversial to support. The main criterion for eligibility
   is "need". The detailed definition of financial need and the method for
   determining the needs of an application will be part of a continued work.
   5. *Who is part of this Working Group?*

   This Working Group, also called Joint SO/AC WG on New gTLD Applicant
   Support or simply "JAS WG", is comprised of highly respected and experienced
   volunteers from the Supporting Organization and the Advisory Committee. This
   all-volunteer group teleconferences twice each week, and works through a
   wiki and mailing lists. These active contributors are located in Australia,
   Africa, Europe and North America.
   6. *What happens next?*

   Few things will happen in the upcoming months:
   - The general public is strongly encouraged to participate in the public
      forum that can be found here:
      
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report<http://icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report>
      - The Board, staff, supporting organizations will review the Milestone
      Report and public comments received.
      - The Supporting organizations and Board will allow for the
      continuation of this initiative, which means that this or a new Working
      Group will carry this work to a next phase.
      - Staff *might* initiate working on the *Support Development Program*,
      depending on the Board’s direction.
   7. *How can one get involved?*

   One way to get involved is to provide a feedback using ICANN’s public
   comment forum. This is one of the ways ICANN listens to the global Internet
   community. You can find the link to this forum here:
   
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report<http://icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report>.
   The public forum will close on *15 December 2010*.

   If you feel strongly about this (and other Internet related issues)
   attend ICANN Meetings – in person or remotely. The next one is in
   Cartagena <http://cartagena39.icann.org/> beginning of December).
   8. *Where to find more information?*

   Relevant Resolutions:
   - 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm#20<http://icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm#20>
      - 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm#2.2<http://icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm#2.2>
      - 
http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-28oct10-en.htm<http://icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-28oct10-en.htm>
      - http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201004

   Information about the New gTLD Program:
   
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm<http://icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm>

   Archive regarding the WG activities:
   - *E-mail:* http://forum.icann.org/lists/gnso-irtp-b-jun09/
      - *Wiki:* https://st.icann.org/so-ac-new-gtld-wg/index.cgi