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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Thanks Maria and all of the staff who worked together to
produce this report. I have a few comments that, although not material
with regard to the staff recommendations in the report, I think are
important for all to understand as the report is considered.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2><U>Section 1.1 Definitions Add Grace Period
(AGP)</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Please note that the following statement in the 3rd
paragraph is misleading: "<SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000000>When a name is deleted by the registry during this period, money
on deposit with the registry is refunded to the registrar.</FONT></SPAN>"
First of all, at least with regard to .com and .net registrations but likely
with other gTLDs as well, it is very rare for a registrar to have 'money on
deposit' with the registry. This is an important point for at least two
reasons: 1) some people think that registries benefit financially from new
registrations that are deleted in the 5-day add-grace period (AGP) and that
is simply not true; 2) refunds are not required because it is simply a matter of
crediting a registrars account - there is no exchange of money, only adjustments
to credit limits that are back upped by instruments such as letters of
credit.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2><U>Section 1.2 Background</U></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Whereas the general information provided in this section
seems fine, there are a few details that are missing:</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<UL dir=ltr>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>In response to customer (registrar and registrant) concerns and in
cooperation with ICANN staff, Network Solutions (now
VeriSign) implemented the AGP for .com, .net and .org within the
first year of the original ICANN agreement for those gTLDs, but the agreement
was never amended to include the requirement.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>When the .com, .net and .org registry agreements were re-executed in
2001, the AGP requirement was included along with other grace period
provisions.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>When the first gTLDs were added, the AGP requirement was included in
the associated registry agreements.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI></UL>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><U><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Section 3.2 Issue Background</FONT></U></SPAN></DIV>
<UL dir=ltr>
<LI>
<DIV align=left><SPAN class=121233717-29052007><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>The 6th bullet starts out, ". . . <SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><FONT
color=#000000>Chuck Gomes of VeriSign stated during ICANN’s June 2006 meeting
that AGP was instituted at the agreement of registrars and registries: . .
.</FONT></SPAN> " It's a minor point, but there was only one
registry at that time.</FONT></SPAN></DIV></LI></UL>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>Chuck Gomes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>"This message is intended for the use
of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain
information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under
applicable law. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly
prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify sender
immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> owner-council@gnso.icann.org
[mailto:owner-council@gnso.icann.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Maria
Farrell<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:55 AM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Council
GNSO'<BR><B>Subject:</B> [council] Issues Report on Domain
Tasting<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear Council
members,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Attached is the
Issues Report on Domain Name Tasting requested by the At-Large Advisory
Committee on 9 May (<A
title=http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg03474.html
href="http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg03474.html">http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg03474.html</A>).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best regards,
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=515145215-29052007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maria
Farrell</FONT></SPAN></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>