[reg-com] Draft initial report on approval process
Hello All, Attached is a draft initial report. I have collected together the public comment material and the work Barbara Roseman did on the analysis of constituency statements. I have also updated the diagrams with numbered steps. The text in the document elaborates on each step in the process diagrams. With respect to the criteria for decision making I have consolidated as best I could the list of points to consider that was developed at the ICANN meeting in Rome, under the two broad areas of ICANN's responsibility - security/stability and competition (as advised by the ICANN General Counsel). See (http://www.gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/reg-com/msg00005.html) for the list of points from the brainstorming session in Rome. Here is the relevant text from the report: "Is the change likely to impact operational stability, reliability, security and global interoperability of the Internet? ======================================================================== =============== One of ICANN's core values is to preserve and enhance the operational stability, reliability, security, and global interoperability of the Internet. In forming a view as to whether there is likely to be an impact, ICANN should consider the following points: Interoperability: The services provided by a gtld registry should maximise interoperability through use of industry standards. Generally this can be achieved by using Internet standards and consistency with the end-to-end Internet protocol principle, de facto industry standards, and open standards. The software required by users of the services should be available from multiple vendors (for example Internet browser software that uses the HTTP standard is available from multiple vendors). Stability: In general, changes to gtld services should not impact applications currently using those services. The end-users of gtld services, include registrars (which register domain names on behalf of their customers using the registry-registrar provisioning system), registrants (that use the domain name to reference an Internet resource - such as an email service or website), and the wider Internet community which make use of the DNS nameservice and WHOIS services associated with the specific gtld. ICANN should consider whether a change is likely to change the behaviour of other protocols that use the service, whether the change imposes costs on Internet end-users to update their software, and whether the impact on applications will be predictable. Where there is any impact on end-users, the benefits of the change to those end-users (as indicated by strong community support) should outweigh the cost of software changes. Where the impact may be unpredictable the change should be reversible, if end-user issues arise after deployment. ICANN staff should take advantage of outside expertise in the areas of operational stability, reliability, security and global interoperability of the Internet on a confidential basis during the initial review of a registry request. Step 2: Is the change likely to reduce the competition in the registration of domain names ======================================================================== =================== One of ICANN's core values is promoting competition in the registration of domain names where practicable and beneficial in the public interest. In forming a view as to whether a change to a gtld service, or a new service is likely to impact on competition, ICANN should consider whether the change would lesson competition amongst registrars providing services to registrants, or lesson the fair competition amongst registrants for specific domain names. Where a new service is introduced, end-users should be able to choose whether to use that new service rather than have it imposed on them. This allows the market to operate to determine which services are useful and which are not. This is consistent with the ICANN core value that where feasible and appropriate, ICANN should depend on market mechanisms to promote and sustain a competitive environment. When considering competition in the registration of domain names, ICANN should also consider whether the change to an existing service or new service is likely to significantly impact end-users rights under significant multi-national treaties in areas such as privacy, trademarks, copyright, and patents. ICANN staff should take advantage of outside expertise in the area of international competition law on a confidential basis during the initial review of a registry request." Please review the draft and let me know your comments. If you want something changed - please suggest alternative text. Regards, Bruce Tonkin Chair GNSO Council Committee on Procedure for use by ICANN in considering requests for consent and related contractual amendments to allow changes in the architecture or operation of a gTLD registry Attachment:
Initialreport-registryapproval.doc |