Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

I have spent a lot of time on the road recently. My visits to 16 countries in three months were just one part of ICANN’s busy and successful international roadshows to raise awareness of new generic top-level domains.

Since the roadshows began in September as part of the broader new gTLD awareness-raising effort, ten members of the Board and more than 15 staff members have spoken at over 50 events that ICANN has either participated in or organized. The events have spanned our geographic regions, covering 38 countries, and more are scheduled before the Board-mandated communications period concludes in January.

The goal of the roadshows is to get the message out that a major change is coming to the Internet, and that includes increasing awareness of both the pros and the cons of applying for a new top-level domain. A new gTLD is an opportunity for online innovation but it has risks. Organizations that choose not to apply may need to take steps to protect their brand or name.

We see awareness rising around the world. Media coverage of new gTLDs has been impressive – thousands of articles have appeared around the world since the roadshows began in Brazil on 12 September. The blogosphere and social media platforms are full of commentary.

And in my travels I learned a lot about how this coming innovation is seen around the world. Like the ICANN community itself, views have been mixed throughout the roadshows. We have heard strongly held views on both sides. Most of the discussions were balanced and at every event that I took part in, opposing views were welcomed and often vigorously expressed.

But our goal was never to convince anyone to apply or to sell them on the value of having a new gTLD. It was to give people the facts and let them form their own views.

A great benefit of my travels was the chance to meet so many members of the ICANN community. Dozens of community experts participated actively in the events and in many countries I also met with community members at informal get-togethers.

Many community members also organized roadshow events. I would like to thank them and all our other hosts around the world for their support, engagement and generosity.

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Monday, 5 December marked the Request for Information (RFI) deadline that asked Emergency Back-End Registry Operator (EBERO) candidates to submit their proposals if they would like to be considered for the new gTLD EBERO Program. We received 14 RFIs from respondents in North America, South America, Asia and Europe and we plan to make the final selection of EBERO organizations in 2012.

This is an important program because it provides the safety and security of uninterrupted registry services in the event of an emergency. There may be occasions when a new gTLD registry is unable to continue their operations and it is the role of the EBERO to provide continued service in that situation. The main goal of the EBERO Program is registrant protection. The program partners ICANN with select organizations that will provide support to sustain critical registry functions for a period of time, or in the case of one registry operator being transitioned to another.

It is important to note that if EBERO services are required, the fee for their service will be paid from the Continuity Operations Instrument (COI) required for all new gTLDs.

We are currently reviewing the RFI responses, particularly the costs associated with these services. We expect to share that information publicly before the launch of the New gTLD Program, scheduled for 12 January 2012.

Once the EBEROs are selected, potentially from the RFI responses, the names of the selected parties will be made public.

Please stay tuned for additional information as we move forward with this program. Our goal is to share as much information as possible to maintain complete transparency throughout this process.

If you have any questions about the EBERO selection process, please contact us directly at ebero@icann.org.

Karla Valente
Director, gTLD Registry Programs

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12 月 5 日（即周一）是”信息征询” (RFI) 活动的截止日期，愿意入围新 gTLD EBERO 计划遴选活动的后方紧急注册管理执行机构 (EBERO) 候补人需要在此日期前提交申请。我们已收到来自北美、南美、亚洲和欧洲的 14 份 RFI，计划在 2012 年完成 EBERO 机构的最终甄选工作。

这项计划意义非凡，因为在发生紧急情况时，它能够使注册管理机构的服务不中断，确保安全、可靠地运营服务。新 gTLD 注册管理机构可能出现无法继续运营的情况，这时 EBERO 就可以发挥作用，保障继续提供服务。EBERO 计划的主要目标是保护注册人。该计划使 ICANN 能够与选定的机构合作，提供相应支持，使注册管理机构的关键性功能能够持续运转一段时间，或是在两个注册管理执行机构之间发生业务过户期间，确保继续提供注册管理机构的关键性功能。

要强调的是，如果需要使用 EBERO 服务，其服务费用将由所有 gTLD 被要求提供费用的连续性运营工具 (COI) 来支付。

目前我们正在审查 RFI 答复，特别是要审查与这些服务有关的成本问题。我们希望在新 gTLD 计划启动（预计在 2012 年 1 月 12 日）前公布这些信息。

一旦从收到的 RFI 答复中选出 EBERO，我们会公布被选中机构的名称。

随着此计划的不断推进，我们会及时为您带来更多最新信息。我们的目的是尽可能多地分享信息，以保持整个流程完全公开透明。

如果您对 EBERO 的选择流程有任何问题，请直接通过以下电子邮件地址联系我们： ebero@icann.org。

Karla Valente
gTLD 注册管理机构计划主管

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В понедельник 5 декабря наступил конечный срок запроса информации (ЗИ), в рамках которого была выдвинута просьба к кандидатам в резервные операторы реестров (EBERO) о подаче предложений, если они хотят, чтобы их кандидатура была рассмотрена на участие в программе EBERO новых рДВУ. Нами было получено 14 ЗИ от респондентов из Северной Америки, Южной Америки, Азии и Европы, и мы планируем провести окончательный отбор организаций-кандидатов на EBERO в 2012 г.

Данная программа очень важна, поскольку она обеспечивает безопасность и непрерывность услуг регистрации в чрезвычайных ситуациях. Возможны ситуации, в которых реестр новых рДВУ не может продолжать работу, и в этом случае задача предоставления дальнейшего обслуживания переходит к EBERO. Главной целью программы EBERO является защита владельцев регистраций. В рамках данной программы ICANN сотрудничает с определенными организациями, предоставляющими помощь в поддержании работоспособности важных функций реестра в течение некоторого времени или в случае перехода от одного оператора к другому.

Необходимо заметить, что в случае нужды в услугах EBERO их стоимость будет учтена в составе средств обеспечения непрерывности деятельности (COI), вклад в которые вносят все новые рДВУ.

В настоящий момент мы изучаем ответы на ЗИ, особенно то, что касается издержек, связанных с данными услугами. Мы должны успеть опубликовать информацию до запуска программы новых рДВУ, который назначен на 12 января 2012 г.

Как только будет проведен отбор EBERO (возможно, из числа ответивших на ЗИ), названия выбранных организаций будут опубликованы.

Следите за обновлениями и появлением дополнительной информации, по мере выполнения нами данной программы. Нашей целью является обмен как можно большим количеством информации для обеспечения полной прозрачности процесса.

Если у вас имеются вопросы по процессу отбора EBERO, вы можете связаться с нами по адресу ebero@icann.org.

Карла Валенте (Karla Valente)
Директор программ реестров рДВУ

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Lundi 5 décembre est la date limite de demande de renseignement qui est donné par l’opérateur de registre de retour urgent (EBERO) aux candidats pour soumettre leurs propositions si ils souhaitent que leur commentaire soit pris en compte par le nouveau programme gTLD EBERO. Nous avons reçu 14 RFI de personnes interrogées d’Amérique du Nord, Amérique du Sud, d’Asie et d’Europe et nous avons programmé la sélection finale des organisations d’EBERO en 2012.

C’est un programme important parce qu’il fournit la sécurité et la sûreté des services de registre sans interruption en cas d’urgence. Il peut y avoir des cas  où un  nouveau registre de gTLD est incapable de continuer les opérations et c’est le rôle de l’EBERO de fournir un service continu dans ce cas. Le principal objectif du programme EBERO est la protection de registrant. Les partenaires du programme de l’ICANN avec des organisations choisies donneront un soutien aux fonctions de registre critique pour une période, ou dans le cas d’un registre opérateur qui puisse passer à un autre.

C’est important de noter que si les services EBERO sont nécessaires, les honoraires pour leurs services seront payés par la continuité des instruments d’opérations (COI) demandé pour tous les nouveau Gtld.

Nous sommes actuellement en train de revoir les réponses RFI, particulièrement les couts associés à ce service. Nous prévoyions de partager cette information publiquement avant le lancement du programme des nouveaux Gtld prévu le 12 janvier 2012.

Une fois que l’EBERO est choisi, potentiellement en rapport avec les réponses du RFI, les noms des parties choisies seront publiés publiquement.

S’il vous plait rester attentif à toute information supplémentaire que l’on ajoute dans ce programme. Notre objectif est de partager le plus d’information possible pour maintenir la transparence de notre procédé.

Si vous avez des questions concernant le procédé de sélection EBERO, veuillez nous contacter directement à ebero@icann.org.

Karla Valente
Directrice, Programmes de registre Gtld

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El lunes 5 de diciembre fue la fecha límite de la Solicitud de Información (RFI) que solicitaba a los candidatos a Operador de Registro Back-End de Emergencia (EBERO) que envíen sus propuestas si deseaban ser considerados para el Programa EBERO para Nuevos gTLD. Recibimos 14 RFI de las personas que respondieron de Norteamérica, Sudamérica, Asia y Europa, y planeamos realizar una selección final de las organizaciones EBERO en 2012.

Este programa es importante porque provee la seguridad y la protección de servicios de registro ininterrumpidos en caso de emergencia. Pueden existir ocasiones en que un nuevo registro de gTLD no pueda continuar con sus operaciones y el EBERO deba cumplir con su función de proporcionar un servicio continuado para esa situación. El objetivo principal del Programa EBERO es la protección del registrante. El programa asocia a ICANN con organizaciones selectas que brindarán apoyo para sostener funciones cruciales de registro durante un período de tiempo o para los casos en que se traslade un operador de registro a otro.

Es importante advertir que si se requieren los servicios de EBERO, el pago de la tarifa por sus servicios provendrá del Instrumento de Operaciones de Continuidad (COI) que todos los gTLD nuevos exigen como requisito.

Actualmente, estamos revisando las respuestas al RFI, especialmente los costos asociados con estos servicios. Esperamos compartir dicha información públicamente antes del lanzamiento del Programa para Nuevos gTLD, programado para el 12 de enero de 2012.

Una vez que se seleccionan los EBERO, potencialmente desde las respuestas al RFI, se publicarán los nombres de las partes seleccionadas.

Manténgase al tanto para acceder a la información adicional que surja a medida que avanzamos con este programa. Nuestro objetivo es compartir toda la información posible a fin de mantener la transparencia total a lo largo de este proceso.

Por cualquier consulta sobre el proceso de selección de EBERO contáctenos directamente escribiendo a ebero@icann.org.

Karla Valente
Directora, Programas de Registro de gTLD

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Senator Jay Rockefeller’s introductory statement at the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s hearing regarding ICANN’s New gTLD Program on December 8, 2011 went right to the issue: “I think we have to get used to dot-hotels. I think we have to get used to dot-auto.”

With that comment, the Chairman seemed to welcome the possibility of greater online innovation and competition. These are two core reasons for the existence of the new program that could potentially introduce hundreds of new top-level domains names into the global Internet.

Senator Rockefeller cautioned that expansion of the domain name system should be done slowly and carefully – and ICANN shares that view.

The other witnesses criticized the program but even if some of their criticisms sounded reasonable, those criticisms were dated and thoroughly addressed during the seven-year development of the program.

I gave the Committee a brief history of the new gTLD program and highlighted the seven years of thorough, transparent and inclusive discussion and debate, including: 2400 public comments from 47 extended comment periods that resulted in over 1400 pages of comment summary and analysis, formation of ten independent expert working groups, and 59 explanatory memoranda and independent reports.

Not only were the comments of my fellow witnesses received and considered during this time, their recommendations were largely adopted. A long and careful deliberative process produced this program. World-class experts on intellectual property, economics and Internet security developed solutions and those solutions were reviewed by the Internet community and vetted by governments.

I also explained that new gTLDs will have even greater safeguards than the TLD registries that exist today and will include enhanced protections for trademark holders. The new environment will sharply reduce the need for defensive registrations.

Senators Amy Klobuchar and Kelly Ayotte expressed the need for engagement by law enforcement in this process and urged ICANN to work closely with law enforcement agencies to make the Internet environment more secure. I clearly stated ICANN’s commitment to implement law enforcement recommendations wherever possible, as soon as possible.

I pointed to ICANN’s past work in the development of consumer protections, the history of collaborating with the law enforcement community, and the ongoing, urgent negotiations with registrars to improve consumer protections in the contracts registrars sign with ICANN.

In response to their comments, I also confirmed ICANN’s commitment to monitor the new gTLD process to ensure ongoing, smooth operation of the planned, time-phased delegation of new gTLDs. This commitment was easily made as it is something ICANN already takes very seriously and has embedded in its planning.

My sincere hope is that the facts I gave the Senate Commerce Committee last week, and will give the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Wednesday, will help create greater understanding of this new era of online innovation, and bring some balance to the PR offensive launched by some parties.

As we move forward with the launch, it’s worth bearing in mind where we have been and what is at stake. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce Lawrence E. Strickling summarized this in his recent comments regarding the multistakeholder process that led to the approval of the New gTLD program: “The multistakeholder process does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome. But it is critical to preserving the model of Internet governance that has been so successful to date that all parties respect and work through the process and accept the outcome once a decision is reached.”

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美国参议院商务、科学和运输常设委员会于 2011 年 12 月 8 日针对 ICANN 的新 gTLD 计划举行了听证会，会上，参议员 Jay Rockefeller 做了介绍性陈述发言，其中提到了以下议题：”我认为我们必须要习惯于使用 .hotel 域名。我认为我们必须要习惯于使用 .auto 域名。”

就此意见来看，对于可能愈演愈烈的在线创新热潮与竞争态势，该委员会主席持欢迎态度。而创新和竞争，也是有望在全球互联网引入数百个新顶级域名的新 gTLD 计划有必要存在的两个核心原因。

Rockefeller 参议员提醒，域名系统的扩展工作要步调谨慎、循序渐进，ICANN 方面对此表示认同。

有其他听证人对此计划持批评态度，其中的一些批评言论听起来似乎也有道理，但这些批评意见已经过时，因为他们所提出的问题已在持续七年之久的计划制订过程中得以解决。

会议期间，我就新 gTLD 计划的发展历程向委员会作了简要介绍，重点强调了这七年期间针对计划的方方面面所进行的题材广泛、深入细致、开放透明的讨论和辩论：通过 47 个延长的意见征询期，共收集到了 2400 条公众意见，由此编写了厚达 1400 多页的意见概要和分析报告，此外还建立了十个独立专家工作组，编写了 59 份说明备忘录和独立评估报告。

在此期间，我们不断接收和考虑来自各方的意见，而且他们的建议大部分都被采纳。新 gTLD 计划的出台，是一个谨慎周密的流程长期运转的结果。来自知识产权、经济和互联网安全领域的世界级专家学者参与制定了计划中的相应解决方案，这些解决方案也经过了互联网群体的评审和各国政府部门的审核。

另外，我还解释了新gTLD将实施比现有 TLD 注册管理机构更为严格的保护措施，新计划将针对商标持有者采用更为完善的保护机制。新的域名环境将大幅降低保护性注册的需求。

参议员 Amy Klobuchar 和 Kelly Ayotte 表示有必要让执法机构参与此流程，并强调 ICANN 应与执法部门密切协作，营造更为安全的互联网环境。我在会议上明确承诺，ICANN 将因地制宜地尽快落实上述有关执法机构参与的建议。

我提到了 ICANN 以往在制定消费者保护机制方面所做的工作，谈到了与执法部门群体的合作历史以及通过注册服务商与 ICANN 签署的合同就改进消费者保护机制而与注册服务商正在开展的紧急磋商。

针对这些议员提出的意见，我还进一步确认了 ICANN 在监控新gTLD流程方面做出的承诺，以确保新 gTLD 的授权工作能够按计划、分阶段、持续而顺畅地进行下去。履行此承诺并不是问题，因为 ICANN 对此严肃以待且已将其纳入相应计划。

我真诚地希望，我上周向参议院商务委员会阐述的情况以及我将在周三向众议院能源和商务委员会通信和技术子委员会阐述的事实，将有助于增进对这个在线创新新时代的理解，并在一定程度上应对相关方发起的公关攻势。

在推进新 gTLD 的启动工作之季，值得我们记住我们已取得的进步以及我们得以前行的关键所在。美国商务部助理部长 Lawrence E. Strickling 在最近就促成批准新 gTLD 计划的多利益主体流程所作的评论中对此做了总结：”多利益主体流程不保证结果能让每个人满意。但是，保留这一互联网监管模式非常重要，因为迄今为止，这种模式仍然非常成功，所有相关方都尊重并贯彻实施该流程，而且一旦流程形成决议，都能自觉遵照执行。”

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