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 Best efforts
will be made to ensure that the second Draft Applicant Guidebook is posted for
public comment at least 14 days before the first international meeting of
2009, to be held in Mexico from March 1 to March 6.
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.