[registrars] Report from Tunisia

[Elana Broitman]

Hi Everyone!  Following is a report of the highlights of the meeting in Tunisia - I apologize for the delay.


	*       Site Finder 

	 	  - Presentation by ICANN on process to date:  could say very little due to the ongoing legislation, but the GNSO recommendations due on January 15, 2004.  Also, ICANN pointed out that RFC 2832 addresses names on hold being out of the zone file.  
			The fact that Site Finder was resolving to names on hold was one of the specific issues pointed out by registrars
	     - Presentation by VeriSign: similarly, they could say very little due to the ongoing legislation.  They reported that they tested Site Finder with 25 different organizations. 

	*       IDN implementation  (multilingual) 
	 	  - Presentation by VeriSign:  testbed names will migrate to new system; would like to launch IDN.IDN, but it will take 12 months before launch.  Potentially launch with new TLD introduction.
	 	  - Presentation by Afilias: .info is coming out with German language IDN FAQs on Nov. 10, with OT&E available in late November.  IDNs will be standards compliant, and the registrars' front end systems will need to be prepared for German language IDN compliance.
	 	  - Presentation by PIR: .org will do IDNs.  There are 140,000 .org IDNs, which haven't worked since early in the year.

	*	  WLS Update - 
	 	  - ICANN
	 	  - VeriSign: waiting for ICANN sign off
		  - registrars asked for 90-60 days notice prior to any WLS launch

	*       Whois Policy Development Update 
	        - update on GNSO Council process by Tom Keller
	        - Presentation by John Klensin on technical community's needs in Whois
				Whois was designed to provide basic information (technical and administrative contacts)
				There are inherent limits in the protocol.
				If registrars serve up different Whois output, referral services that use Whois will fail.
				Port43 contains un-necessary additional information.  Fundamtentally just need real technical contacts and need them in a predictable manner.
				In particular, need email of tech contacts.

	*       Future Registry Services 
	        - Update by Bruce Tonkin on GNSO Council process - Council will review the appropriate process for identifying "registry services."  This is not a definition, but exploring process for determining them fairly and efficiently.  Will look primarily at stability/security issues, not "competition."
	        
	*       Transfers Assistance Group Update 
	        - ICANN staff reported on continuing progress.  The goal is to finalize the new implementing documents and send them for constituency consultation by early next year.

	*       Deletes Policy Update from ICANN

	*       Redemption Grace Period and Charge Backs 
	        - Barry Fellman's presentation provided 

	*	  ICANN reported on its budget.  It has hired 2 staff and is planning to fill additional open positions in next 1-2 months.  ICANN is sensitized to opposition to further budget increases, but is also overloaded and finds it difficult to complete its work in the current budget.  Therefore, it is seeking creative means to raise funds from new sources.



Elana Broitman