<html><head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><div><div><div>This comment is in response to GNSO Council's 08-Dec-2010 request for</div></div></div><span id="OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"><div><div><div>constituency comments on recommendations of the cross-community working</div><div>group (CWG) regarding Council's Recommendation 6 (the "morality and public</div><div>order" section of the draft AGB)</div><div><br></div><div>The Business Constituency (BC) addressed this issue in its Dec-2010</div><div>comments on the proposed final AGB.</div><div>(see page 7 of BC comments posted at</div><div><a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/5gtld-guide/msg00026.html">http://forum.icann.org/lists/5gtld-guide/msg00026.html</a> and attached here)</div><div><br></div><div>Relevant points from that submission are repeated here in response to</div><div>Council's request.</div><div><br></div><div>In our Dec-2010 comments, the BC explains our rationale for concerns over</div><div>the proposed objection process:</div><div> </div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> The BC is concerned that confusion and controversy may result from</div><div>subjective and undefined aspects of the Limited Public Interest and</div><div>Community objections.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> The BC understands that ICANN may need to outsource objection and</div><div>evaluation tasks during the new gTLD application process. But a decision</div><div>to outsource services does not enable ICANN to escape accountability for</div><div>decisions made by outsourcing vendors. ICANN's Board must be the final</div><div>resolution body for disputes that arise during evaluation and objection</div><div>processes.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> The challenges of managing both internal and outsourced objection</div><div>processes underlies the BC's recommendation for an initial batch of</div><div>fewer than 500 applications:</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> "The first batch should be limited to significantly fewer than 500</div><div>applications, in order to test the operational readiness of newly</div><div>designed application processing and objection / contention systems."</div><div>(see page 3 of our Dec-2010 comments, attached)</div></blockquote></blockquote><div> </div><div>The BC also called for more definitions and specifics in the Guidebook</div><div>section on Limited Public Interest objections:</div><div><br></div><div>3.1.2.3 ".. an applied-for gTLD string may be considered contrary to</div><div>generally accepted legal norms..."</div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> the BC believes that term "generally accepted" should be specifically</div></blockquote></blockquote><div>defined.</div><div><br></div><div>The objector must prove substantial opposition within the community it has</div><div>identified itself as representing.</div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> the BC believes the term "substantial opposition" should be</div><div>specifically defined.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><div>3.1.5 Independent Objector A formal objection to a gTLD application may</div><div>also be filed by the Independent Objector (IO). The IO does not act on</div><div>behalf of any particular persons or entities, but acts solely in the best</div><div>interests of the public who use the global Internet.</div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> The BC believes the Guidebook should include a description of the</div><div>methodology ICANN will use to solicit interest from independent</div><div>Objectors.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The IO will be selected by ICANN, through an open and transparent process,</div><div>and retained as an independent consultant.</div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> the BC recommends adding specific decision criteria regarding the</div><div>selection and supervision of the Independent Objector.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Anyone may file a [Limited Public Interest Objection]. Due to the</div><div>inclusive standing base, however, objectors are subject to a ³quick look²</div><div>procedure designed to identify and eliminate frivolous and/or abusive</div><div>objections.</div><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><blockquote id="MAC_OUTLOOK_ATTRIBUTION_BLOCKQUOTE" style="BORDER-LEFT: #b5c4df 5 solid; PADDING:0 0 0 5; MARGIN:0 0 0 5;"><div> the BC believes that open-ended guidelines may create a perpetual loop</div><div>of opposition. The BC recommends a more specific regime.</div></blockquote></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>-- </div><div>Steve DelBianco</div><div>Vice chair for policy coordination</div><div>ICANN Business Constituency</div><div>www.bizconst.org</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></span></body></html>