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    <p><a
href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-05feb13-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-05feb13-en.htm
      </a><br>
    </p>
    <p>Dear BC members, <br>
    </p>
    <p>ICANN is seeking public comment on the subject of "closed
      generic" gTLD applications and whether specific requirements
      should be adopted corresponding to this type of application.
      Stakeholder views are invited to help define and consider this
      issue. In particular, comments would be helpful in regard to
      proposed objective criteria for:<br>
    </p>
    <ul>
      <li>Classifying certain applications as "closed generic" TLDs,
        i.e., how to determine whether a string is generic</li>
      <li>Determining the circumstances under which a particular TLD
        operator should be permitted to adopt "open" or "closed"
        registration policies. </li>
    </ul>
    The New gTLD Program Committee of the ICANN Board of Directors has
    discussed this issue and has also directed completion of a set of
    focused research and analysis items to inform any possible action to
    be taken.
    Concurrent with this comment period, the GNSO is being requested to
    provide guidance on this issue.
    <br>
    <br>
    Public Comment Box Link:<a
href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/closed-generic-05feb13-en.htm">
http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/closed-generic-05feb13-en.htm</a>
    <br>
    <br>
    The BC Excomm is discussing options to advance this discussion, and
    the discussion regarding "implementation versus policy", and ICANN's
    public interest responsibilities - what are they, what does it mean
    for ICANN to "act in the public interest"? In the meantime, please
    take note of the announcements regarding public comments. <br>
    <br>
    Thank you,
    <div class="moz-forward-container">
      <pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Kind Regards,

Benedetta Rossi
BC Secretariat
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://community.icann.org/display/gnsobc/Home">https://community.icann.org/display/gnsobc/Home</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.bizconst.org">www.bizconst.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bc-secretariat@icann.org">bc-secretariat@icann.org</a></pre>
      <br>
      <h2> News Alert</h2>
      <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: arial; font-size:
        small;"> <a
href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-05feb13-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-05feb13-en.htm</a></p>
      <hr style="margin: 20px 0px 0px;">
      <h2 style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px;"> "Closed Generic"
        gTLD Applications</h2>
      <p style="margin: 15px 0px 0px;"> 5 February 2013</p>
      <p>  </p>
      <table class="convey">
        <tbody>
          <tr>
            <td class="light"> <strong>Forum Announcement:</strong></td>
            <td> Comment Period Opens on</td>
            <td class="light"> <strong>Date:</strong></td>
            <td> 5 February 2013</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td class="light"> <strong>Categories/Tags:</strong></td>
            <td colspan="3"> Top-Level Domains</td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td class="light"> <strong>Purpose (Brief):</strong></td>
            <td colspan="3">
              <p> ICANN is seeking public comment on the subject of
                "closed generic" gTLD applications and whether specific
                requirements should be adopted corresponding to this
                type of application. Stakeholder views are invited to
                help define and consider this issue. In particular,
                comments would be helpful in regard to proposed
                objective criteria for:</p>
              <ul>
                <li> classifying certain applications as "closed
                  generic" TLDs, i.e., how to determine whether a string
                  is generic, and</li>
                <li> determining the circumstances under which a
                  particular TLD operator should be permitted to adopt
                  "open" or "closed" registration policies.</li>
              </ul>
              <p> The New gTLD Program Committee of the ICANN Board of
                Directors has discussed this issue and has also directed
                completion of a set of focused research and analysis
                items to inform any possible action to be taken.</p>
              <p> Concurrent with this comment period, the GNSO is being
                requested to provide guidance on this issue.</p>
            </td>
          </tr>
          <tr>
            <td class="light"> <strong>Public Comment Box Link:</strong></td>
            <td colspan="3"> <a
href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/closed-generic-05feb13-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/closed-generic-05feb13-en.htm</a></td>
          </tr>
        </tbody>
      </table>
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