[council] Work Continues to Increase Developing Economies Participation in the New gTLD Program

[Glen de Saint Géry <Glen@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-13oct11-en.htm


Work Continues to Increase Developing Economies Participation in the New gTLD 
Program

Comment Period Deadlines (*)

Important Information Links

Public Comment 
Box<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/jas-final-report-13oct11-en.htm>

Open Date:

13 October 2011

To Submit Your Comments (Forum)<mailto:jas-final-report@xxxxxxxxx>

Close Date:

16 December 2011

Time (UTC):

23:59

View Comments Submitted<http://forum.icann.org/lists/jas-final-report/>

Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose


A message from the JAS WG:

Public comment is requested concerning the Joint Applicant Support Final 
Report<http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/jas-final-report-13sep11-en.pdf> [PDF, 503 
KB] which deals with a very important issue: How can ICANN assist applicants 
from developing economies increase their participation in the new generic 
Top-Level Domain (New gTLD) Program? Comments will be received until December 
16 2011.

The Final Report is the last step of the work done by the Joint Applicant 
Support Working Group (JAS WG). The group is represented by ICANN community 
members from around the world that have been working together on this 
initiative since April 2010. The Report 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 under the New gTLD Program. The Report proposes initial 
criteria for qualification as well as several other types of support for ICANN 
to consider. It has been approved by ALAC and the GNSO, the chartering 
organizations.

Translations of the Final 
Report<http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/jas-final-report-13sep11-en.pdf> [PDF, 503 
KB]:
·         Español<http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/jas-final-report-13sep11-es.pdf> 
[PDF, 513 KB]
·         
Français<http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/jas-final-report-13sep11-fr.pdf> [PDF, 
570 KB]

Section II: Background


Below are some basic aspects of this work.

This proposal is currently under consideration by ICANN community, Board and 
Staff. A Program is under development and further details will be made 
available on ICANN's website to the general public.

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."

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

The Final 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 Final Report proposes 
initial criteria for qualification as well as several other types of support 
for ICANN to consider. It has been approved by the GNSO and ALAC, the 
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 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:
o    Support by and/or for distinct cultural, linguistic and ethnic communities;
o    Service in an under-served language, the presence of which on the Internet 
has been limited;
o    Operation in a developing economy in a manner that provides genuine local 
social benefit;
o    Advocated by non-profit, civil society and non-governmental organizations 
in a manner consistent with the organizations' social service mission(s); and
o    Operation by a local entrepreneur(s), providing demonstrable social 
benefit in those geographic areas where market constraints make normal business 
operations more difficult.

The Final Report also recommends that it instead use the internationally 
agreed-upon UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs list:
o    Least Developed Countries: category 199;
o    Landlocked Developing Countries: category 432;
o    Small Island Developing States: category 722;
o    Indigenous Peoples, as described in Article 1 of Convention No. 169 of the 
International Labour Organization and the UN Declaration on the Rights of 
Indigenous Peoples.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:
o    An applicant for a gTLD string that is not a generic word intended to 
reference a specific commercial entity (commonly referred to within ICANN as a 
"dot-brand");
o    A governmental or para-statal institution;
o    A gTLD string that is a geographic name or is based on one;
o    Affiliated with sponsors or partners that are bankrupt or under bankruptcy 
protection;
o    Affiliated with sponsors or partners that are the subject of litigation or 
criminal investigation;
o    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 designed, 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.    What kind of assistance in being considered?

 The Final Report proposes a full array of financial and non-financial support 
to be offered  to applicants that meet the established criteria.

The support should be available in the first and all subsequent rounds of new 
gTLD applications.

Currently ICANN has launched an online work space dedicated to connect 
potential applicants from developing regions who wish to apply for a New gTLD 
in their community with organizations who wish to offer either financial or 
non-financial assistance. See details on how this space works 
here:http://newgtlds.icann.org/applicants/candidate-support

6.   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.

Section III: Document and Resource Links


Relevant Resolutions and previous Public Comment Forum:
·         Information about the New gTLD 
Program<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm>
·         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>
·         
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/second-milestone-report-10jun11-en.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

Section IV: Additional Information


The JAS WG will hold a session during the upcoming ICANN Dakar 
Meeting<http://dakar42.icann.org/full-schedule> to both explain the Final 
Report and receive additional community feedback. This session will have remote 
participation for the people not able to attend in person.

The JAS WG recently held a webinar about the Final Report. The webinar has been 
recorded and is available in English, French and Spanish. See recordings 
here<http://gnso.icann.org/calendar/#sep>.

Staff Contact:

Karla Valente

Email:

karla.valente@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:karla.valente@xxxxxxxxx?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Work%20Continues%20to%20Increase%20Developing%20Economies%20Participation%20in%20the%20New%20gTLD%20Program%20public%20comment%20period>



Glen de Saint Géry
GNSO Secretariat
gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:gnso.secretariat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
http://gnso.icann.org