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--></style></head><body><div data-externalstyle="false" dir="ltr" style="font-family:Calibri,'Segoe UI',Meiryo,'Microsoft YaHei UI','Microsoft JhengHei UI','Malgun Gothic','Khmer UI','Nirmala UI',Tunga,'Lao UI',Ebrima,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;"><div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>RESPONSE
TO APPLICATIONS TO AUTHORIZE TWO-CHARACTER (LETTER-LETTER) DOMAINS AT THE
SECOND LEVEL BY GAC REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA: 25 MARCH 2015</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'> </span></p>
<ol type="1" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: decimal;" start="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>We hereby respectfully
submit an objection to release of “na” with names in the subject line for its registration by the
registry operators of the TLDs. We further request clarification from ICANN
regarding the implementation of Specification 5 of the current Registry
Agreement preventing all two-character ASCII labels from registration or
allocation to a registry operator at the second level within the TLD.
However, such two-character label strings may be released to the extent
that the registry operator <u>reaches agreement with the relevant
government and country code manager</u> of the string as specified in the
ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard (my emphasis added).<span> </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>NA is the
country code for Namibia and the names in the subject line are new gTLDs generally within category
1 of GAC safeguards, as per the Beijing meeting of March 2013.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Save for an
agreement between the involved Registry Operators and the Namibian
Government, through facilitation by the designated government
representative accredited to the GAC, the “na” with names in the subject line must remain reserved until assigned to
a person or entity proposed, supported or accepted by the Namibian Government
and the ccTLD manager for “na”.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>The objection
and request for clarification are necessitated based on the following considerations:</span></li>
<ol type="a" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: lower-alpha;" start="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>A national
policy on the matter is due to be revised to address changes and advances
in the Namibian DNS arrangements, which may require such reservations.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>The Namibian
Government enacted national legislation on the operation and management
of the “na’ name and these are subject to revision, including ongoing
consultations to develop a Namibian solution for the mandate to
administer the “na” name.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>The Namibian
Government and wider internet community have limited understanding and appreciation
for the two-character ASCII labels authorization process and need urgent
and effective capacity building in this critical area from ICANN. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>This would
allow us to avoid third parties using the name “na” for the wrong reasons
and in a way that could negatively affect the Namibian internet community
and the Government of Namibia.</span></li>
</ol>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Finally, the application
form makes it utterly convenient and easy for applicants to select “All
letter/ letter two-character ASCII labels” instead of compiling …“Appendix
A by removing all labels that you do <i>NOT</i>
wish to request.”, despite the fact than they may or may not have an
interest in certain two-letter character names. <span> </span>Thus, it should similarly be made more
convenient for Governments to object in a more simpler, straightforward
and collective way than to scrutinize each and every application and
comment on each and every application. The process lends itself to acquiescence
by omission to a sometimes undesirable outcome. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>We shall
appreciate being informed of the decision taken in regards to our request
and objection.</span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Kind regards, </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Henri Jacob Kassen</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Director for ICT
Development</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;'>Ministry of ICT,
Government of Namibia</span></p></div><div data-signatureblock="true"><div> </div><div>Sent from Windows Mail</div><div> </div></div></div></body></html>