We wanted to provide some additional information on the work being carried out by ICANN’s Board of Directors and the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to prepare for their upcoming meeting in Brussels on the new gTLD program.
As detailed in our recent announcements and blog, the Board and the GAC will hold a joint workshop to discuss the GAC’s concerns regarding the proposed implementation of the new gTLD program. Following the workshop, it is anticipated that the Board and GAC will meet for a bylaws-triggered consultation.
The Board, ICANN staff and the GAC are working diligently to understand the GAC’s concerns and identify the areas of disagreement and possible solutions. Substantial preparatory work has been done, including the appointment of “issue leads” for the topics raised in the GAC’s Cartagena Communiqué, exchanges of draft issue papers and joint conference call discussions. The papers will be published prior to the meeting.
Most ICANN Board Members and a strong contingent of GAC representatives are expected to attend.
In addition to the Brussels consultation, the bylaws-defined consultation will take place on 17 March, the day before the Silicon Valley–San Francisco Board Meeting. Because of the timing of the bylaws consultation, the Board will not approve or announce the new gTLD program at that Board Meeting.
The timing and substance of any subsequent Board actions on the new gTLD program will depend on the outcome of the bylaws consultation.
Stay tuned for further updates on the logistics and agenda for the Brussels meeting.
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JS 02.16.11 at 12:03 pm
Spin off the IDN TLDs. It’s the single element of the new TLD program that’s non contentious.
David 02.16.11 at 12:05 pm
“Spin off the IDN TLDs. It’s the single element of the new TLD program that’s non contentious.”
+1 From Billions of users. IDN gTLDs are a necessity, No choice matter.
Adam 02.16.11 at 12:24 pm
There isn’t a single reason that IDN gtld’s (.com,.net,.org) should be held off a second longer. Not one.
ICANN and GAC are holding up billions of people’s ability to access the Internet in their own language.
This is unacceptable, period!
IDN gtlds aren’t new gtlds. They shouldn’t be held to the same standard as .xxx or .gay or .whateveryouareputtingintheroot.
IDN gtlds are necessities and to not move forward is a slap in the face to billions of online users. You’ve held them up long enough ICANN.
catchnames 02.19.11 at 1:03 am
While IANA are approving CC IDN TLD.What is the point in making this hostage to IDN .com.net etc? Don’t club it together.IDN has waited ofr more than 10 years now.Even email clients are getting ready for ID.IDN making this hostage of other “new” TLD is taking internet to backwards.I checked Outlook express allowed me to send to email to IDN.IDN.
Sam 02.19.11 at 3:03 am
People in foreign countries are getting their IDN ccTLDs, but as evident from recent uprisings in such countries such as Egypt and Libya, the government is controlling and censoring the internet. They managed to get domains in their full language, but are still censored.
Without IDN gTLDs they cannot ‘fully’ express themselves without the fear that their domain can be swiped away and forgotten about.
It’s time.
It must be now.
Let the people of the world communicate freely in their own native language. There is no better time.