[council] ICANN Board resolution on Batching from meeting of 28 March 2012

["Bruce Tonkin" <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-28mar12-en.ht
m


Batching of New gTLD Applications: Secondary Timestamp

Whereas, the window for applying for new gTLDs opened on 12 January
2012, and is scheduled to close on 12 April 2012.

Whereas, the New gTLDs Applicant Guidebook (section 1.1.2.5)
<http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb> indicates that if the
volume of applications received significantly exceeds 500, then
applications will be processed in batches.

Whereas, on 8 December 2011, the Board adopted a resolution
(#2011.12.08.4a) authorizing the development of a plan to use a
"secondary time stamp" for determining the processing order in the event
that multiple batches are required.

Whereas, the New gTLDs program team has developed proposed operational
details of a plan for implementing a secondary time stamp, now referred
to as "digital archery".

Whereas, some members of the community have expressed concerns about
whether the digital archery proposal is sensible and fair, and an
informal subgroup of the Board has studied the feasibility, benefits,
and risks of the proposal as well as alternative batching mechanisms
such as auction.

Resolved (2012.03.28.01), the Board confirms the approval of secondary
timestamp/digital archery as the mechanism for sorting new gTLD
applications into batches, and directs that the operational details of
the mechanism be communicated to applicants and the public as necessary
and appropriate.


Rationale for Resolution 2012.03.28.01

The reaffirmation of the Board's commitment to the secondary
timestamp/digital archery is taken after an review of alternate
proposals for batching processes considered after hearing the
community's comments and concerns as raised at the ICANN meeting in San
Juan, Costa Rica.  A small group of the Board intensively looked at the
digital archery solution, a potential auction solution, and considered
the prioritization comments provided by the community. For the ongoing
application round, affirming the digital archery process is the fairest
way to achieve a non-random batching solution that accounts for
diversity across all regions of ICANN.  The Board also reaffirms the
Rationale for Resolutions 2011.12.08.04 - 2011.12.08.06.

The batching selection process determines how applications will be
divided into batches and prioritized for evaluation analysis.
Conceptually, the batching selection process is relatively
straightforward and includes the following four steps:

1.Applicants register in an online batching system to select their
batching preference (i.e., earliest or any batch) and select a target
date and time (e.g., Target Date: 10 May 2012 and Target Time: 12:00:00
UTC);

2.Applicants re-enter the online batching system and generate a message
that is sent from their computer/system to the online batching system.
The online batching system records the date and time the applicant's
message is received. (e.g., Message Received Date: 10 May 2012 and
Message Received Time: 12:00:01);

3.The system calculates the time variance between the applicant's Target
Date/Time from step 1 and the Message Received Date/Time from step 2.
This time variance is known as the applicant's "secondary timestamp"
Based on the example in steps 1 and 2 above the secondary timestamp is 1
second. The closer to zero the secondary timestamp is the more likely
the application will be processed in the earliest batch, assuming the
applicant has opted in to the earliest batch.

4.The batching selection process then combines the applicant's batching
preference (i.e., earliest or any batch), the "secondary timestamp"
(e.g., 1 second), and the geographic region to determine the
batch/processing order for the specific application.

However, the implementation of the online batching system must be
undertaken with care and it must ensure that a secure, consistent, and
objective process is available for all applicants. The operational
details of the online batching system have considered and addressed a
number of concerns. Those concerns include ensuring that:

1.The details of the batching selection process are clear to applicants,
through direct communications with them;

2.Only authorized applicants can enter the online batching system to
perform the specific tasks necessary to complete the batching selection
process;

3.An opt-out mechanism is available so applicants can designate their
batching preference (i.e. earliest or any batch);

4.The online batching system allows applicants to perform their tasks
without hindrance (i.e., system remains available during appropriate
times);

5.Latency concerns are addressed in a fair manner so that applicants are
not put at an advantage or disadvantage based on their geographic
location;

6.The target time variance is measured at a level that allows ICANN to
adequately determine batches; and

7.Applicants are allowed to practice portions of the process to
understand how the target time variance will be calculated.

8.The goals of geographical diversity and fairness are taken into
account.

Accordingly, to ensure that applicants and prospective applicants are
aware of the batching selection process the Board has determined that it
is appropriate to take this action now.  The Board is therefore
approving the operational details of the batching selection process and
is authorizing the CEO to release the details of this plan.

Providing for this now will allow the community and applicants to
understand when applications will be processed if a large number of
applications (i.e., significantly more than 500 applications) are
received by ICANN.