[council] Public Comment: Work Continues to Expand Developing Economies Participation in the New gTLD Program

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-10jun11-en.htm



Public Comment: Work Continues to Expand Developing Economies Participation in 
the New gTLD Program

10 June 2011

A message from the JAS WG:

The Second Milestone 
Report<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/jas-second-milestone-report-09may11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 282 KB] is being published for public 
comment<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201107-en.htm#second-milestone-report>
 today. It 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?

The Second Milestone Report is a continuation of the work done by the Joint 
Applicant Support Working Group, also known as JAS WG. The group is represented 
by ICANN community members that have been working together on this initiative 
since April 2010. The JAS WG was formed following a 
Resolution<http://www.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."

Below are some basic aspects of this work. It is important to note that this 
proposal is under consideration by ICANN community, Board and staff. At this 
time, no specific Support Development Program is under development. Once a 
decision is made about the specific elements of this program, ICANN will make 
the details available.

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

The Second Milestone Report is a document produced by the JAS WG 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 for ICANN 
to considered. It has been approved by ALAC, one of the chartering 
organizations of the working group, but it has not yet been approved by the 
GNSO.

The First Milestone Report was published for public 
comment<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report>
 in November 2010. Both reports present the foundation for ICANN to establish a 
Support Development Program dedicated to this issue, however, the group intends 
to further develop this work in the near future.

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 new generic top-level 
domain (new gTLD). The applicants passing the evaluation process, will sign a 
contract with ICANN and run a Registry.

2.    Who is being considered to receive support?

Once the new gTLD applicant interested in receiving support has demonstrated 
"service to the public interest", "financial capabilities and need", one or 
more of the following characteristics apply:

    *   Support by and/or for distinct cultural, linguistic and ethnic 
communities;
    *   Service in an under-served language, the presence of which on the 
Internet has been limited;
    *   Operation in an emerging market or nation in a manner that provides 
genuine local social benefit;
    *   Sponsored by non-profit, civil society and non-governmental 
organizations in a manner consistent with the organizations' social service 
mission(s);
    *   Operated by local entrepreneur, providing demonstrable social benefit 
in those geographic areas where market constraints make normal business 
operations more difficult;

All applicants will be expected give a self-declaration that they are eligible 
to receive support under these criteria.

3.    Who does NOT qualify for support?

According to the JAS WG, the application must NOT have any of the following 
characteristics:

    *   From a governmental or para-statal applicant (subject to review, see 
report for details);
    *   A TLD string explicitly based, and related to, a trademark (i.e. a "dot 
brand" TLD);
    *   A string that is, or is based on, a geographic name;
    *   Sponsors or partners who are bankrupt or under bankruptcy protection;
    *   Sponsors or partners who are subject of litigation or criminal 
investigation;
    *   Otherwise incapable of meeting any of the Applicant Guidebook's due 
diligence procedures.

4.    Who benefits from this? Why is it important?

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.

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.

5.    Who is part of this Working Group?

The 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, Asia, Europe, South 
America, North America and the Caribbean.

6.    What happens next?

A number of follow up activities are anticipated:

    *   The general public is strongly encouraged to participate in the public 
forum that can be found here: insert here the link to the public forum.
    *   The JAS WG will hold a session during the upcoming ICANN Singapore 
Meeting to both explain the Report and receive additional community feedback. 
This session will have remote participation for the people not able to attend 
in person. If you are interested in learning more and have questions, please 
see here<http://singapore41.icann.org/node/24849> the details.
    *   The Board, staff, Advisory Committees and Supporting Organizations will 
review the Second Milestone Report and public comments received.
    *   Commentary received regarding the JAS from within recent statements of 
the Governmental Advisory Committee will be addressed.
    *   The Board, upon consideration of the Report and its commentary, may 
instruct the JAS and staff to develop an implementation program based upon the 
Report and comments received.

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: insert here the link to the public 
forum. The public forum will close on 29 July 2011.

8.    Where to find more information?

Relevant Resolutions and previous public forum:

    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm#20
    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm#2.2
    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-28oct10-en.htm
    *   http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201004
    *   First Milestone Report Public 
Forum<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report>

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

Archive regarding the WG activities:

    *   E-mail: 
soac-newgtldapsup-wg@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:soac-newgtldapsup-wg@xxxxxxxxx>
    *   Wiki: 
https://community.icann.org/display/jaswg/SO-AC+New+gTLD+Applicant+Support+Working+Group+%28JAS-WG%29





Glen de Saint Géry

GNSO Secretariat

gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

http://gnso.icann.org