[aso-policy] Forward from ICANN: Names Council Recommendations on new gTLDs

["Paul Wilson" <pwilson@apnic.net>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Louis Touton [mailto:touton@icann.org] 
Sent: Thursday, 11 May 2000 3:16
To: Paul Wilson

[...]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To the Address Council:

Subject:  Names Council Recommendations on new gTLDs

On 18-19 April, the Names Council of ICANN's Domain Name Supporting 
Organization approved a statement recommending that the ICANN Board 
adopt a policy for "measured and responsible" introduction of new 
generic top-level domains.  (This is a very brief summary of the 
statement--please read the copy that appears below for details.)  
The Names Council's statement indicated that it would consider making 
supplemental recommendations on this topic, and the Names Council 
has scheduled a meeting during the week of 15 May for this purpose.

Under ICANN's bylaws, recommendations of one supporting 
organization's council are to be distributed to the other 
supporting organization councils so that they may advise the Board 
on any considerations arising within the other councils' areas 
of expertise:

   "(d) Any recommendation forwarded to the Board by a Supporting 
   Organization shall be transmitted to all other Supporting 
   Organizations so that each Supporting Organization may comment 
   to the Board regarding the implications of such a 
   recommendation on activities within their individual scope of 
   primary responsibility."

(From Article VI, Section 2(d) of ICANN Bylaws.)

The ICANN Board is scheduled to consider the Names Council's 
recommendations at its meeting (in connection with INET) on 15-16
July in Yokohama.  It would be helpful if the Address Council could
provide the Board any comments it may have on any address-policy 
implications of the Names Council recommendations by the end of 
June.

As noted above, the Names Council may forward supplemental 
recommendations to the Board in the near future.  If I receive 
any, I will forward them to you at that time.  Recognizing that 
the Address Council is holding its first general assembly on 
19 May in Budapest, however, I did not want to wait until I 
receive any supplemental recommendations before providing you 
the Names Council's basic recommendations.

I look forward to seeing you in Budapest.

Best regards,

Louis Touton
ICANN Secretary

=======================================================

DNSO Names Council Statement on New gTLDs
(approved 18-19 April 2000)

The Names Council determines that the report of Working 
Group C and related comments indicate that there exists 
a consensus for the introduction of new gTLDs in a 
measured and responsible manner. The Names Council 
therefore recommends to the ICANN Board that it establish 
a policy for the introduction of new gTLDs in a measured 
and responsible manner, giving due regard in the 
implementation of that policy to (a) promoting orderly 
registration of names during the initial phases; 
(b) minimizing the use of gTLDs to carry out infringements 
of intellectual property rights; and (c) recognizing the 
need for ensuring user confidence in the technical 
operation of the new TLD and the DNS as a whole.

Because there is no recent experience in introducing 
new gTLDs, we recommend to the Board that a limited 
number of new top-level domains be introduced initially 
and that the future introduction of additional top-level 
domains be done only after careful evaluation of the 
initial introduction. The Names Council takes note of 
the fact that the WG C report indicates that several 
types of domains should be considered in the initial 
introduction, these being:  fully open top-level domains, 
restricted and chartered top-level domains with limited 
scope, non-commercial domains and personal domains. 
Implementation should promote competition in the 
domain-name registration business at the registry and 
registrar levels. The Names Council recognizes that 
any roll-out must not jeopardize the stability of the 
Internet, and assumes a responsible process for 
introducing new gTLDs, which includes ensuring that 
there is close coordination with organizations dealing 
with Internet protocols and standards.

To assist the Board in the task of introducing new 
gTLDs, the Names Council recommends that the ICANN 
staff invite expressions of interest from parties 
seeking to operate any new gTLD registry, with an 
indication as to how they propose to ensure to promote 
these values.

We would like to extend our deep appreciation to the 
substantial number of participants who worked so 
diligently in Working Groups B and C, and want to 
thank them for their significant efforts in evaluating 
the issues that were referred to them.  Recognizing 
the Working Group C has recently approved additional 
principles and that Working Group B's formal report 
was provided to us yesterday, we advise the Board 
that we will be providing supplemental recommendations 
in the near future.

                        # # #


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