Input needed on new domain names, review of 3 sTLDs

[ICANN At-Large - Denise Michel <michel@xxxxxxxxx>]

AT-LARGE STRUCTURES ADVISORY/REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION
*please post/email this request for action, but do NOT share email 
addresses# listed below*

RECIPIENTS: (See list of At-Large Structure groups and candidates, and 
their contacts, below#)

ACTION:  Deadline for comments on how ICANN should introduce new domain 
names (new gTLDs) has been extended to 31 January 2006 - please submit 
input; also, a "call for papers" on the introduction of new domain names 
has been issued - papers due by 31 January 2006; and input on proposals 
to renew the current .aero, .coop, and .museum sponsors is requested by 
4 February 2006 - please send in views.

*Introduction of New gTLDs (generic top level domains)

ICANN is creating a process for introducing new generic top level domain 
names (gTLDs) and the ALAC needs the input of your organization/its 
members *before 31 January 2006* to help ensure this process meets 
individual Internet users' needs. Post comments on a "Wiki" page at 
<http://www.icannwiki.org/index.php/ALAC_on_New_TLDs>. Views may also be 
shared via the At-Large forum - email them to <forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>. 
Here are the issues that need to be addressed:

1. Should new generic top level domain names be introduced?

2. Selection Criteria for New Top Level Domains

3. Allocation Methods for New Top Level Domains

4. Policy to Guide Contractual Conditions for New Top Level Domains

The GNSO Council, a primary policy-making body within ICANN, launched a 
new policy development process to guide ICANN on the introduction of new 
gTLDs. ICANN wants to take the lessons learned from past TLD 
introductions, along with community input, and develop a new process for 
introducing TLDs. The ALAC needs input from the At-Large community to 
develop detailed guidance for ICANN.

A "Wiki page" has been created to enable At-Large community members to 
share their views and help shape the ALAC's recommendations on-line. Go 
to <http://www.icannwiki.org/index.php/ALAC_on_New_TLDs>, click "edit" 
in the section you want to discuss, and add your comments. Please let 
the ALAC know if you find this method of sharing views useful. (See 
<http://www.icannwiki.org/Help:Contents> for information on adding 
comments to “Wiki” and starting your own "Wiki" page.)

In the past, the ALAC has pushed ICANN to regularize the process of 
examining and approving new TLD proposals, and has urged ICANN to move 
beyond testbeds and evaluations and permit those proposing new TLDs to 
put their plans into effect. Last year ICANN launched a limited process 
for selecting new sponsored TLDs (sTLDs) from a pool of ten 
applications. The ALAC recommended that, rather than restrict the 
applicant pool to a few sTLDs, ICANN create a quick, effective and 
uncontroversial process for the creation of any kind and number of new TLDs.

More information is available at 
<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-06dec05.htm> and 
<http://www.alac.icann.org/gtld/>.

Also, the GNSO is inviting organisations, groups, and individuals to 
submit substantive papers to inform their policy development efforts on 
new gTLDs. Respondents should address the topics described in detail at 
<http://www.icann.org/new-tlds> and should provide reasoned background 
analysis and references for
statements expressed.

*Review of sTLDs (sponsored top level domains)

Three of the first round sTLDs, .aero, .coop, and .museum, will have 
their contracts up for renewal next year and ICANN has asked for 
comments on them by 4 February 2006.

All three have submitted applications for renewals under about the same 
terms as they currently have but with more flexibility in the 
registration process. The renewal proposals are supposed to address the 
effectiveness of the Sponsor in meeting the needs of the Sponsored TLD 
Community, proposed changes to the Charter and the delegation of 
policy-development responsibility from ICANN to Sponsor, and whether the 
Sponsor has complied with all material terms of the current Agreement.

None of the three domains has gotten more than 5% of the registrations 
they projected in 2001.  Is this a problem?  Should these domains 
continue under the same management?  Under different management?

The ALAC is preparing comments on all three renewals and needs the input 
of your organization/its members *before 4 February 2006* to help ensure 
this process meets individual Internet users' needs.  Post comments on a 
"Wiki" page at <http://www.icannwiki.org/STLD_Renewals>. Views may also 
be shared via the At-Large forum - email them to <forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>.

More information (and ICANN's request for comments) is posted at 
<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement1-21dec05.htm>.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you for your assistance with these matters.

The Interim At-Large Advisory Committee
alac@xxxxxxxxx
www.alac.icann.org

#Contact information for groups certified as "At-Large Structures" and 
ALS applicants:

AFRICA

- South African Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC-ZA)
Contact:  Alan Levin <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

-  Nigerian Internet Users Coalition
Contact:  Adetokunbo Abiola <tyokunbo@xxxxxxxxxxx>

- Africa Youth Foundation
Contact:  Paulyn Jansen, <jansen@xxxxxx>, Antje Heyer <intern@xxxxxx>,
Vincent Onyango <Onyango@xxxxxx>, Alain Vonan <coordination@xxxxxx>

- ISOC-DRC
Contact:  Didier Rukeratabaro Kasole <didier@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Moroccan Internet Society
Contact:  Abdelaziz Hilali, <hilali@xxxxxxxxxx>, Amine El Khettar,
<info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Mohammed Hassi Rahou <mhassirahou@xxxxxxxx>

- Anais.AC
Contact:  Robertine Tankeu Keutchankeu, <rtankeu@xxxxxxxx>

- Sudan Internet Society
Contact:  Mohamed El Bashir Ahmed <mbashir@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Mohammed 
El Fatih <elfatih@xxxxxxxxxxx>

ASIA/AUSTRALIA/PACIFIC

- Internet Society Hong Kong Chapter*
Contact: Edmon Chung <edmon@xxxxxxxxxx>

- Internet Users Society - Niue
Contact: Stafford Guest <sguest@xxxxxxx>

- Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC)
Contact: Franck Martin <franck.martin@xxxxxxxxx>

- Internet Society of Australia (ISOC-AU)
Contact: Adam Creed <adamcr33d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> and Tony Hill 
<president@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Internet Users Network (Japan)
Contact:  Izumi Aizu, <iza@xxxxxxx>

- Internet Society Vasudhay Kutumbhkum (ISVK)- India
Contact:  Sunil B. Krishna <Krismark@xxxxxxxx>, Nirmol K. Agarwal
<nirmol81@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Uma Baskaran <uma_baskaran@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- ISOC Taiwan Chapter
Contact:  Joanna Tso, <joanna@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Ian Chiang 
<ian@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

- At Large @ China
Contact:  Mr. Zuo Feng, <zuofeng@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Dr. Li Hu
<lihu@xxxxxxxxxx> <lih@xxxxxxxxxx>

- National Information Infrastructure Enterprise Promotion Association
Contact:  Dr. Han-Min Hsia, <hsia@xxxxxxxxxx>, and Mr. Kuo-Wei Wu, 
<kwu@xxxxxxxxxx>

- Arab Knowledge Management Society (AKMS)
Contact: Ibrahim Nakhala, <akms@xxxxxxxx>, and Charles Shaban, 
<cshaban@xxxxxxxx>

EUROPE

- Tld World Info*
Contact: Luca Mercuri <siggy@xxxxxxxxxx>

- Internet Society Nederland
Contact: Koen Klooster<koen.klooster@xxxxxxx>

- Internet Society Belgiuim
Contact:  Rudi Vansnick, <rudi.vansnick@xxxxxxx>

- Internet Society - Catalan Chapter
Contact:  Miquel Strubell Trueta <mstrubell@xxxxxxx>, Frederic Monràs
<fmonras@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> and Andrés Oliva <aoliva@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
<aoliva@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Internet Society - Finland
Contact: Tommi Karttaavi, <tommi.karttaavi@xxxxxxx>

- Internet Society - Bulgaria
Contact: Julia Velkova <julia@xxxxxxx>, Dragoslava Pefeva <dpefeva@xxxxxxx>

- Internet Society (ISOC) Luxembourg A.S.B.L.
Contact: Patrick Vande Walle <patrick@xxxxxxx>

- Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft (FITUG) e.V
Contact: Thomas Roessler <roessler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Societa' Internet (ISOC  Italy)
Contact: Vittorio Bertola, <v.bertola@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

LATIN AMERICA/CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

- Asociación Internauta
Contact:  Sergio Walter Salinas Porto <presidente@.internauta.org.ar>

- AGEIA DENSI
Contact: Carlos Aguirre <carlosaguirre@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- JCI Ecuador
Contact: Wladimir Dávalos S. <daniels@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Asociación Ecuatoriana de Derecho Informático y Telecomunicaciones, AEDIT
Contact: Paulina Casares <po@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Corporación Ecuatoriana de Comercio Electrónico, CORPECE*
Contact: Carlos Vera <cvera@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

- Asociación Costarricense de Derecho Informático
Contact:  Alejandra Castro Bonilla <dereinfo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> and
<acastro@xxxxxxxxxx>

- Alf-Redi
Contact: Erick Iriarte Ahon, <faia@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, and Jose Ovidio
Salgueiro, <jsalgueiro@xxxxxxxxx>

North America

- CAUCE (Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail)*
Contact: John Levine <johnl@xxxxxxxxx>

- Web405
Contact: Dennis Wilen <dwilen@xxxxxxxxx>, Joe Crawford <artlung@xxxxxxxxx>,
and Bret Fausett <fausett@xxxxxxxxxxx>

- Intellectual Property & Technology (IPT) Section of the Hawaii State 
Bar Association
Contact: Seth Reiss <sethreiss@xxxxxxxxx>

- AmericaAtLarge (America@Large)
Contact: RJGlass <jipshida@xxxxxxxxx>


*Pending At-Large Structure application