[council] Resolutions from the new gTLD program committee meeting on 13 August 2013

[Bruce Tonkin <Bruce.Tonkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:  
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-new-gtld-13aug13-en.htm


13 August 2013
 

 1.   Main Agenda:


        a.   Dotless Domains

Whereas, dotless domains consist of a single label and require the inclusion 
of, for example, an A, AAAA, or MX, record in the apex of a TLD zone in the DNS.

Whereas, Section 2.2.3.3 of the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) prohibits the use of 
dotless domain names without evaluation of the registry services and ICANN's 
prior approval.

Whereas, on 23 February 2012, the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory 
Committee (SSAC) published SAC 053: SSAC Report on Dotless Domains [PDF, 183 
KB], and recommended that the use of DNS resource records such as A, AAAA, and 
MX in the apex of a Top-Level Domain (TLD) should be contractually prohibited 
where appropriate, and strongly discouraged in all cases.

Whereas, on 23 June 2012, the ICANN Board adopted resolution 2012.06.23.09 
tasking ICANN to consult with the relevant communities regarding implementation 
of the recommendations in SAC053.

Whereas, on 24 August 2012, ICANN staff published the SAC053 Report for public 
comment requesting input to consider in relation to implementing the 
recommendations of the SSAC report.

Whereas, in May 2013 ICANN commissioned a study on the stability and security 
implications of dotless domain name functionality to help ICANN prepare an 
implementation plan for the SAC053 recommendations, and on 29 July 2013 Carve 
Systems delivered a report to ICANN identifying the security and stability 
issues that should be mitigated before gTLDs implement dotless domain names 
(the "Carve Report").

Whereas, on 10 July 2013 the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) released a 
statement on dotless domain names, recommending against the use of dotless 
domain names for TLDs.

Whereas, the NGPC has considered the risks associated with dotless domains as 
presented in SAC053, the IAB statement and the Carve Report, and the 
impracticality of mitigating these identified risks. The NGPC has also 
considered the comments received from the community on this issue.

Whereas, the NGPC is undertaking this action pursuant to the authority granted 
to it by the Board on 10 April 2012, to exercise the ICANN Board's authority 
for any and all issues that may arise relating to the New gTLD Program.

Resolved (2013.08.13.NG01), the NGPC acknowledges the security and stability 
risks associated with dotless domains as presented in SAC053, the IAB statement 
and the Carve Report and affirms its commitment to its security and stability 
mandates as the New gTLD Program is implemented.

Resolved (2013.08.13.NG02), in light of the current security and stability 
risks identified in SAC053, the IAB statement and the Carve Report, and the 
impracticality of mitigating these risks, the NGPC affirms that the use of 
dotless domains is prohibited.

Resolved (2013.08.13.NG03), the President, Generic Domains Division is 
authorized to take all necessary steps to implement these resolutions.


        b. Durban GAC Advice Draft Scorecard

        No resolution taken.


        c.   Reconsideration Request 13-4

Whereas, DotConnectAfrica Trust's ("DCA Trust") Reconsideration Request, 
Request 13-4, sought reconsideration of the Board action (through the New gTLD 
Program Committee) on 4 June 2013, accepting advice from ICANN's Governmental 
Advisory Committee regarding DCA Trust's new gTLD application for .AFRICA, and 
determining that this particular new gTLD application will not be approved.

Whereas, the BGC considered the issues raised in Reconsideration Request 13-4.

Whereas, the BGC recommended that Reconsideration Request 13-4 be denied 
because DCA Trust has not stated proper grounds for reconsideration.

Resolved (2013.08.13.NG04), the New gTLD Program Committee adopts the BGC 
Recommendation on Reconsideration Request 13-4, which can be found at 
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/governance/reconsideration/recommendation-dca-trust-01aug13-en.pdf
  [PDF, 120 KB].


        d.   Approval of NGPC Meeting Minutes

Resolved (2013.08.13.NG05), the Board approves the minutes of the 18 June 2013, 
25 June 2013 and 2 July 2013 New gTLD Program Committee Meetings.