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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Council colleagues,</span><br>
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<p>Following up on the missed agenda item from our previous Council meeting, Carlos and I are pleased to provide a concise update on the activity of the CWG-UCTN (Cross-Community Working Group on the Use of Country and Territory Names as top-level domains. The
objective of the CWG-UCTN is to review the current status of representations of country and territory names, as they exist under current ICANN policies, guidelines and procedures. In addition, the Group has been asked to provide advice regarding the feasibility
of developing a consistent and uniform set of definitions that could be applicable across the respective SO's and AC's for country and territory names as top-level domains.</p>
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<p>Since ICANN53, the CWG has reached preliminary conclusions in relation to the use of two-letter codes. We are working to publish an interim report setting out those preliminary conclusions prior to ICANN54. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Applying a similar
methodology to that used in analysing 2-letter codes whereby we start with information gathering to ascertain current usage, the CWG has recently circulated to SG and C leaders a short list of questions about current practice in the use of 3-letter codes as
TLDs. I'm aware that as Dublin approaches we are all increasingly busy, but if there is any opportunity to do I would be grateful if you could encourage your SG and C members to respond and send their responses to Lars Hoffmann (lars.hoffmann@icann.org), who
is part of the CWG’s staff support team, prior to the start of ICANN54. Input received now will help to shape our face-to-face discussions in Dublin and develop a work plan going forward. </span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I note in closing that the ccNSO members of the WG have been very active both in terms of participating in the CWG and in contributing to the calls for information on current practice. I fear that if we do not have sufficient
input from the GNSO side, the CWG will embark on a ccNSO-centric discussion, leading to ccNSO-centric findings and conclusions.</span></p>
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<p>Many thanks and best wishes,</p>
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<p>Heather Forrest, CWG-UCTN co-chair (GNSO)</p>
<p>Carlos Raul Gutierrez, CWG-UCTN co-chair (GNSO); GNSO Council Liaison to the CWG</p>
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