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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Dear sir, madam,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the possible ways of processing the New GTLD applications.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">As applicant for the geographical TLD .Amsterdam we would like to suggest the following. ICANN itself has made a division between geographical
 and non-geographical applications. Geographical applications needed a letter of support from the national government and a letter of support from the geographical entity itself. Because of this, geographical applications are easier to evaluate and can be transferred
 for release in the first phase.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Apart from that ICANN can make a division between applications against which an objection has been filed and applications without objections.
 If there are less than 1000 non-objected applications, they can all be released in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">We wish you good luck in the the decision making process. Thank you for considering our opinion,
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Kind regards<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Egbert Wolf</span></font><font color="navy"><span lang="NL" style="color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Senior Communicatieadviseur &#8211; Design manager<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Directie Communicatie &#8211; Communications Department<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Gemeente Amsterdam &#8211; City of Amsterdam
</span></font><font color="navy"><span lang="NL" style="color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:navy">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">T
<st1:phone o:ls="trans" w:st="on">020 552 3262</st1:phone><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="DE" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><a href="mailto:e.wolf@amsterdam.nl"><span lang="NL">e.wolf@amsterdam.nl</span></a></span></font><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:navy">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy">Amstel 1, 1011PN Amsterdam<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><a href="http://amsterdam.nl">amsterdam.nl</a></span></font><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><font color="blue"><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><a href="http://stijlweb.amsterdam.nl">stijlweb.amsterdam.nl</a></span></font><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" color="navy" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy"><a href="http://iamsterdam.com">iamsterdam.com</a></span></font><span class="MsoHyperlink"><u><font size="2" color="blue" face="Arial"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p></o:p></span></font></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" color="navy" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:navy">&nbsp;</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold">Van:</span></font></b><font size="2" face="Tahoma"><span lang="NL" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma"> newgtld-input
 [mailto:newgtld-input@icann.org] <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Verzonden:</span></b> maandag <st1:date Year="2012" Day="30" Month="7" ls="trans" w:st="on">
30 juli 2012</st1:date> 0:05<br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Onderwerp:</span></b> ICANN Seeks input on gTLD Batching</span></font><span lang="NL"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Dear Applicant:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black;font-weight:bold">Opportunity for Community Input: Processing of New gTLD Applications</span></font></b><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">At the Prague ICANN meeting, the new gTLD Program Committee decided to terminate Digital Archery, and instructed ICANN staff to proceedwith
 the initial evaluation of applications as quickly as possible. This evaluation is in progress based on a tentative project plan that foresees the processing of applications in a single batch, and simultaneous release of results. ICANN believes this approach
 is consistent with the constraints that various parts of the community have in performing their respective roles in the evaluation process, and with the feedback received from the community at the
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prague</st1:place></st1:City> meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">This comment opportunity seeks input on requirements for an evaluation and delegation
 process consistent with previous root zone scaling discussions of smooth delegations, adding no more than 1,000 new gTLDs per year. This outcome can be achieved by the:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">timing of the release of evaluation results to applicants,<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></font></p>
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margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">timing of the release of applications into the pre-delegation steps of contract execution and pre-delegation
 testing,<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></font></p>
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margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">metering of delegations of new gTLDs into the root zone.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">ICANN is committed to executing the evaluation and delegation process in a way that is equitable and meets ICANN&#8217;s commitment to
 ensuring the security and stability of the DNS, consistent with previously established root zone scaling goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Please write to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">new</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">gtld</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">-</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">input</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">@</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">icann</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">.</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">org</a>&nbsp;with
 your input. Comments received by <st1:date Year="2012" Day="19" Month="8" ls="trans" w:st="on">
19 August 2012</st1:date> (UTC 00:00) will be considered.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><font size="3" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black;font-weight:bold">Background</span></font></b><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">The concept of batching has been a part of the Applicant Guidebook since its first
 draft. Batching accomplishes three goals:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Better management of the evaluation process by placing an upper bound on the number of evaluators necessary
 and the number of parallel evaluations occurring at any one time.<o:p></o:p></span><u1:p></u1:p></font></p>
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margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Release of evaluation results to applicants according to a predictable schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Delegation of TLDs at a rate acceptable to the technical community, consistent with the root zone scaling
 discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">Based on the definitive information that ICANN now has about the pool of applications,
 and work on the evaluations to date, this commentprocess seeks input to meet requirements for goals #2 and #3.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Leading up to and during ICANN&#8217;s meeting in Prague, the applicant and community positions on requirements for batching schemes thatwould
 control the evaluation, communication and delegation of applications were reported to be:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">The batching solution has to be equitable.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="1" color="black"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;color:black">&nbsp;</span></font><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">The evaluation results
 have to be announced at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Successful applications should proceed to delegation phase without undue delays.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Delegation to the root must be at a smooth rate and must not exceed 1,000 per year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">5.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">The GAC is planning to issue early warnings shortly after the Toronto ICANN meeting in October 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Consideration by the GAC of issues concerning GAC advice on contentious applications is not expected to
 be finalized before the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:City> meeting in April 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">During the root scaling discussion, it was agreed that ICANN would not delegate
 TLDs at a rate greater than 1,000 per year. This is because the primary challenge with maintaining root zone stability is controlling the rate of change to the root zone system and not the size of the root zone itself, meaning delegation should not occur at
 a rate of 1,000 delegations on a single day.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-right:36.0pt;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">
<font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">In
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Prague</st1:place></st1:City>, the batching and prioritization method known as Digital Archery was terminated and eliminated from further consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold">Recent Developments</span></font></b><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">Initial evaluation of new gTLD applications is underway.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">Applications are being distributed to evaluators in a way that enables efficient processing.<o:p></o:p></span></font><u1:p></u1:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">ICANN has conducted pilot evaluations and had discussions with evaluators to accelerate
 the evaluation schedule. As a result of thesediscussions, the evaluation teams have committed to accelerate the evaluations substantially, while processing them in a single batch.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">In Prague, a methodology was discussed where the smooth delegation of applications
 could occur by first releasing applications that passed initial evaluation without the need for clarifying questions, then releasing applications in order of the number of clarifying questions required, from fewest to highest. After analysis, this methodology
 proved unworkable because 80% to 90% of the total evaluation time is required to form and ask clarifying questions, so little smoothing would result.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">The current plan indicates that initial evaluation of all applications, processed
 in a &#8220;single batch&#8221;, can be completed in 11-12 months, possibly less &#8211; resulting in publication of results in June-July 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:36.0pt;
margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:36.0pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt">
<i><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;
font-style:italic">Note: It is planned that regular updates to applicants during the evaluation period will be provided. In addition to written reports, ICANN
 is looking into the use of a webinar / conference call format to deliver updates.</span></font><u1:p></u1:p></i><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">For applicants, releasing results in a single batch would mean that the first delegations
 would occur in late third quarter of 2013, six months later than originally expected.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span class="apple-style-span"><font size="3" color="#101010" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#101010">Implications of GAC timing:&nbsp;</span></font></span><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;line-height:14.0pt">
<font size="3" color="#101010" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#101010">The GAC plans to &#8220;issue any Early Warnings shortly after the Toronto ICANN meeting, in October
<st1:metricconverter ProductID="2012,&#8221;" w:st="on">2012,&#8221;</st1:metricconverter> meaning that Early Warnings would be received within the currently planned single evaluation period.</span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt">
<font size="3" color="#101010" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#101010">Also, the GAC &#8220;is considering the implications of providing any GAC advice on gTLD applications. These considerations are not expected to be finalized before
 the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Beijing</st1:place></st1:City> meeting in April
<st1:metricconverter ProductID="2013.&#8221;" w:st="on">2013.&#8221;</st1:metricconverter> This is shortly before the currently planned announcement of initial evaluation results (i.e., the schedule without additional accelerations beyond those stated above).<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold">Statement of the Issue</span></font></b><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">While there will be some natural smoothing as applications take different paths
 through objections and contention resolution processes, there will still be a requirement for some method&nbsp;of metering applications into the delegation process. This is due to the relatively high number of applications that mayreach pre-delegation steps at
 essentially the same time. A metering method has not yet been determined and will need to be developed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold">Questions to be answered by comments</span></font></b><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">Submitted comments should specifically answer each of the following questions:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Should the metering or smoothing consider releasing evaluation results, and transitioning applications
 into the contract execution and pre-delegation testing phases, at different times?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">How can applications be allocated to particular release times in a fair and equitable way?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Would this approach provide sufficient smoothing of the delegation rate?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Provide reasoning for selecting this approach.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;
color:black">Should the metering or smoothing be accomplished by downstream metering of application processing (i.e.,
 in the contract execution, pre-delegation testing or delegation phases)?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">How can applications be allocated to a particular timing in contract execution, pre-delegation testing, or
 delegation in a fair and equitable way?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Provide reasoning for selecting this approach.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:72.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo4">
<![if !supportLists]><font size="2" color="black" face="Courier New"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
&quot;Courier New&quot;;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">o<font size="1" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font:7.0pt &quot;Times New Roman&quot;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Include a statement describing the level of importance that the order of evaluation and delegation has for
 your application.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">Please write to&nbsp;</span></font><u><font color="blue"><span style="color:blue">new</span></font></u><font color="black"><span style="color:black"><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">gtld</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">-</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">input</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">@</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">icann</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">.</a><a href="mailto:new-gtld-input@icann.org">org</a>&nbsp;with
 your input. Comments received by <st1:date Year="2012" Day="19" Month="8" ls="trans" w:st="on">
19 August 2012</st1:date> (UTC 00:00) will be considered.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="4" color="black" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Calibri;color:black">Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><font size="3" color="black" face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
color:black">New gTLD Team<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<br>
<hr>
<font face="Arial" color="Gray" size="1">Op dit bericht is een disclaimer van toepassing.<br>
Ga naar www.amsterdam.nl/algemene_onderdelen/overige/disclaimer_e-mail voor meer informatie.<br>
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