<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hi Jeff, Avri, et al:<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">I saw that this has been published. <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/diaz-to-atallah-et-al-14mar17-en.pdf" class="">https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/diaz-to-atallah-et-al-14mar17-en.pdf</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">The reason I am writing is in reference to the proposal that: “ICANN create a fund, to be seeded with US$3M at start-up, to promote universal awareness of new
gTLDs to the general Internet user community, and universal acceptance of new gTLDs across the
Internet.”</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In the past, when ICANN staff members have been asked in public fora to begin an effort to promote the use of domain names, the response has generally been that it is not ICANN’s role to promote the use of domain names and domain name registries. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">To me, this is not an operations question; this is a policy question. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In the current environment, i.e., absent a policy statement, ICANN can easily proceed to take up the RySG recommendation, especially for this relatively small seed fund. I hope we all urge that ICANN do this. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">However, if ICANN hesitates to take up an awareness campaign regarding the benefits of domain names (Including how they can be used and their efficacy as a strategic tool), then a policy statement could direct such an action. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">ICANN is for two things, the allocation of domain names and IP addresses. Who else is to inform the largely ignorant public on the utility of domain names if not ICANN? </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">All of us argued about how best to introduce and govern domain name usage - but we are all in favor of domain name uptake and the safe and stable growth of the domain name industry. All of us show up at ICANN meetings to talk about the best way to delegate and register names. If we and ICANN are not for their usage - why be part of this?</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Some of us were against the new gTLD program and others were not happy with the final policy or implementation. Does that mean they want to see the program fail? Of course not. The new gTLD program is the culmination of many years and many thousand people-hours of work. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">With tools and resources for promoting public understanding of domain names readily available, I don’t see how ICANN (the staff or the community) can sit idly by. With the cash surplus in hand, as Patton said, “we are at the right time in the right place with the right instrument,” to do something to fortify the domain name system and industry. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">During the slow process of launching new TLDs, search, apps and social media became strong competition for domain name adoption. It is time for us champions of domain names to use the tools at our disposal, including a small portion of that excess application fee cash, to create public awareness about the domain name industry that we have created. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">My recommendation is that this PDP working group should form a team to consider this issue and make a separate recommendation to the GNSO Council in a timely manner. A separate team is justifiable because this effects the previous as well as the next round. I also think the current PDP working group can be more nimble as compared to the effort necessary to start a new policy discussion.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">That recommendation could simply be a statement that it <i class="">is </i> the role of ICANN to promote awareness of domain names and the benefits of competition and choice in the domain name industry.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We can show that we can act. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Kurt</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; " class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; " class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; " class=""><div class="">________________</div><div class="">Kurt Pritz</div><div class=""><a href="mailto:kurt@kjpritz.com" class="">kurt@kjpritz.com</a></div><div class="">+1.310.400.4184</div><div class="">Skype: kjpritz</div><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></div><br class=""></div></body></html>