[council] Board goes ahead with limited round for sponsored TLDs

[Bruce Tonkin]

Hello All,

It appears as though the ICANN Board has taken into account the concerns
of the GNSO with respect to the limited round for sponsored TLDs.

>From the Board resolution below, the ICANN president must post an RFP by
15 Dec 2003.

Regards,
Bruce Tonkin
Registrars rep on the GNSO Council


From: http://www.icann.org/announcements/advisory-31oct03.htm

Whereas the ICANN community has called upon the Board to commence long
term strategic plans to launch a long term process for the creation of
new gTLD's and to act on community input already received in a timely
manner.

Whereas the Board resolved in Montreal to invite public comment on the
draft request for proposals for sTLDs posted on 24 June 2003, and in
particular on the question whether or not the RFP should be limited to
applicants who proposed sponsored sTLDs in November 2000.

Whereas, at the ICANN Board meeting held 13 October 2003, the Board
discussed at length the topic of how, and within what timeframe, ICANN
should proceed with the creation of new gTLDs, including sTLDs.

Whereas the GNSO has called upon the Board to go forward with the
process for an interim round of sTLDs. The GNSO has discussed and
commented on its desire for the Board to take action again on 29 October
2003.

Whereas the Board has heard the expression of concerns by experts and
affected parties through the GNSO, and from users directly and through
the ALAC.

Whereas the Board recognizes community consensus that it would be very
difficult, both for practical reasons and as a matter of equitable
policy, to restrict a new sTLD round to prior applicants from the 2000
round.

Whereas the Board also recognizes general community agreement that the
appropriate form of sponsoring organization for new sTLDs should not
necessarily be restricted to not-for-profit entities, but could include
other forms of entity that otherwise meet the criteria for a sponsoring
organization.

Resolved [03.169] that the Board directs the President to finalize and
post no later than 15 December 2003 an open Request for Proposals for a
limited number of new sTLDs, such final RFP to be based on the points of
agreement indicated above and the comments received concerning the draft
RFP. 

Resolved [03.170] that upon the successful completion of the sTLD
selection process, an agreement reflecting the commercial and technical
terms shall be negotiated, although such terms may be subject to further
amendment, as appropriate, as a result of the New gTLD process which is
scheduled to be completed in 2004.

Resolved [03.171] that the selection process and implementation for
sTLDs shall be evaluated and the results of such evaluation shall be
utilized in the New gTLD process scheduled to be completed in 2004.