[council] Motion re. New gTLD Communications Period

Whereas:

· Implementation Guideline E states, ?The application submission date will be at least four months after the issue of the Request for Proposal and ICANN will promote the opening of the application round.? (See Final Report, Part A, Introduction of New Generic Top-Level Domains, dated 8 August 2007 at http://gnso.icann.org/issues/new-gtlds/pdp-dec05-fr-parta-08aug07.htm#_Toc43798015 )

The intent of the GNSO with regard to Guideline E was to attempt to ensure that all potential applicants, including those that have not been active in recent ICANN activities regarding the introduction of new gTLDs, would be informed of the process and have reasonable time to prepare a proposal if they so desire.
The minimum 4-month period for promoting the opening of the application round is commonly referred to as the ?Communications Period?.
Considerable delays have been incurred in the implementation of new gTLDs and the GNSO wishes to minimize any further delays.
It appears evident that a second Draft Applicant Guidebook (RFP) will be posted at some time after the end of the two 45-day public comment periods related to the initial version of the Guidebook (in English and other languages).

Resolve:

· The GNSO Council changes Implementation Guideline E to the following:

o ICANN will initiate the Communications Period at the same time that the second Draft Applicant Guidebook is posted for public comment.

o The opening of the initial application round will occur no earlier than four (4) months after the start of the Communications Period and no earlier than 30 days after the posting of the final Applicant Guidebook (RFP).

o As applicable, promotions for the opening of the initial application round will include:

§ Announcement about the public comment period following the posting of the second Draft Applicant Guidebook (RFP)

§ Information about the steps that will follow the comment period including approval and posting of the final Applicant Guidebook (RFP)

§ Estimates of when the initial application round will begin.