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[ga] The IDN Factor

  • To: ga@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Subject: [ga] The IDN Factor
  • From: Danny Younger <dannyyounger@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 08:11:12 -0800 (PST)
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The IDN Factor

One of the first questions that I would like to
discuss with respect to the introduction of new TLDs
pertains to IDNs.  Are we to regard IDNs as within the
province of the gTLD sector (and thus subject to GNSO
policy formulation), or as domains within the ccTLD
realm (and thus not within the scope of a GNSO PDP)?
Or perhaps just as their own separate category to
eventually be managed by a new Supporting
Organization, an idnSO?

At the recent IDN workshop the CDNC proposal (which
received fairly widespread support) called for the
internationalization of TLDs first at the ccTLD level,
and later at the gTLD level.  The issue is whether
ICANN should support this approach (which is already a
de facto reality) or whether perhaps IDNs at the gTLD
level should become the next category of TLDs to go
through a "proof of concept" phase which might
immediately follow on the heels of the conclusion of
the GNSO PDP.

In terms of utility, need, beneficiality, consider the
fact that "OVER 820 MILLION INTERNET USERS ARE
NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS; IT REPRESENTS ABOUT 65%
OF ALL INTERNET USERS IN THE WORLD." 
http://www.icann.org/meetings/vancouver/captioning-idn-workshop-30nov05.htm

There is substantial and evident public demand for
IDNs.  One IDN workshop contributor stated:  "IN THE
LAST YEAR OR SO, THERE'S BEEN QUITE A LOT OF PLUG-INS
DISTRIBUTED WITHIN MAINLAND CHINA THAT HANDLE IDN.IDN.
 AND I WOULD SAY IT'S SOME NUMBER LIKE 50 MILLION OR
IN EXCESS OF THAT.  OKAY.  THE -- IN TERMS OF ISP
SERVER-BASED RESOLUTION, WELL, MY ESTIMATE IS ABOUT 85
MILLION USERS TODAY."

... and public demand is one of the primary
considerations in determining whether to launch a new
series of TLDs.  As Vint Cerf once testified:  "Once
this "limited" number of new TLDs was introduced --
and the suggested numbers roughly ranged from 1 to 10
-- and assuming there were no adverse side effects,
then additional TLDs could be introduced if there was
consumer demand for them." 
http://www.icann.org/correspondence/cerf-testimony-08feb01.htm

So, what thoughts might some of you have on the topic
of IDNs in the context of the GNSO PDP?






		
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