Final Draft
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Draft
ALAC Statement to the ICANN Board on Prioritization of Internationalized Domain Names in the New Generic Top Level Domain Program
The At Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) notes with concern that Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) Top Level Domains represent only 6% of the total application for ICANN’s new generic Top Level Domain (gTLD). We urge the ICANN Board to prioritize and expedite the evaluation and processing of IDNs in the new gTLD program based on the following rationale:
- Globalization is a key strategic priority for ICANN. IDN prioritization presents an opportunity for ICANN to enhance its engagement and outreach to Internet users and expand consumer choice, which serve the global public interest.
- IDN prioritization is crucial for enhancing diversity and multilingualism on the Internet. The implementation of IDNs in a world that is multilingual and multicultural makes the Internet more inclusive and representative of the world that we live in.
- The IDN Top Level Domain applications are distinct in that they are generally not driven by business opportunities and require supportive policy and encouragement. The market for IDNs needs to be nurtured carefully for future growth. The small number of applications should not be interpreted as a lack of user demand for IDNs. Rather, it makes evident that market forces at the registry level alone is insufficient, and that the advancement of IDN gTLDs requires supportive policy implementation at ICANN. The successful implementation of IDN TLDs will gradually create visibility for IDNs, which will eventually stimulate demand among communities who would otherwise be marginalized.
- Other points?
Internal Note [about this draft statement]:
- Inputs drawn from discussion at the At Large IDN Working Group Meeting in Prague.
- Does not address Applicant Support issue, which is addressed in another statement.
- Does not address the issue of variants (variants are complicated – this statement sends a message that we want IDNs prioritized as a matter of policy and leaves the “doability” of variants open for discussion at the implementation level)
- Does not use “small size of application makes it easy to process” as a rationale because we would push for prioritization regardless of number of application.
8 Comments
Rinalia Abdul Rahim
Input from Jean Sebastien Lascary on 8 July 2012 sent via email to Rinalia Abdul Rahim:
As a follow up to my remote participation to ALAC's open session on the subject of internationalized domain names (IDNs) I would like to submit the following in support to the ALAC draft statement:
Firstly, it should be noted that communities who do not use a latin-based writing system have been thus far under-served by the domain name system. These communities have a reasonable expectation of access and use to an equally useful DNS as other communities have enjoyed for decades. As a result, there is a legitimate basis for positive discrimination towards IDN TLDs as they will participate to the bridging of this gap and not merely to the expansion of top level namespace.
Furthermore, there is factual evidence that ICANN underfunded its global outreach communication campaign. The most obvious being the startlingly low budget allocated to the global outreach when compared to the other essential components of the program, such as the Independent Objector (250 to 17 ratio), and, as already mentioned in the draft statement, the resulting low proportion (6%) of IDN TLD applications. A prioritization of IDN TLDs would alleviate these unfortunate circumstances and perhaps give exposure to IDN TLDs in anticipation of the program's second round.
Lastly, in the midst of propositions for greater national oversight of the DNS and the arguable ensuing balkanization, a prioritization of IDN TLDs would be consistent with ICANN's commitment in an unique authoritative root.
In the hope that you will consider these points in your continuous effort to improve the new gTLD program,
Kind regards,
Jean-Sébastien Lascary
Rinalia Abdul Rahim
Thank you Jean-Sébastien Lascary for raising excellent and valid points that would strengthen the ALAC statement.
I look forward to more community input on this topic.
Best regards,
Rinalia Abdul Rahim
Anonymous
"One world. One internet" means absolutely nothing until IDNs are approved. Having an internet connection across the globe is not merely enough if roughly 70% of the worlds population cannot access and utilize the web. The mentioned points have been presented over and over to ICANN for more then a decade in the form of emails, forums, conferences, nursery rhymes you name it. IDNs are a priority and have always been a priority. Perhaps ICANN needs to change their slogan from "One world. One internet" to simply "Incompetent"
Olivier Crepin-Leblond
Please be so kind to sign your posts when submitting them without a log-in. I helps with any follow-up should any more details be needed.
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro
Rinalia, I have combined Jean- Sebastien Lascary's comments into this draft submission to be added to your points:
Human Rights
The ICANN Board should be minded to note that the United States including 72 other countries had on the 5th July, 2012 adopted a United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/HRC/20/L.13 on the Promotion, Protection and Enjoyment of Human Rights on the Internet.
The Resolution does the following:-
"1. Affirms that the same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, in particular freedom of expression, which is applicable regardless of frontiers and through any media of one’s choice, in accordance with articles 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
2. Recognizes the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress towards development in its various forms;
3. Calls upon all States to promote and facilitate access to the Internet and international cooperation aimed at the development of media and information and communications facilities in all countries;
4. Encourages special procedures to take these issues into account within their existing mandates, as applicable;
5. Decides to continue its consideration of the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, on the Internet and in other technologies, as well as of how the Internet can be an important tool for development and for exercising human rights, in accordance with its programme of work."
The Board is invited to note that governments around the world endorsed the recommendations of the Working Group on Internet Governance 2005 in terms of key public policy areas that directly affect Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) which include:-
Furthermore, we live in a diverse world where and consumers have the right to express themselves in the language of their choice. We recognise the significance and importance that IDNs play in enhancing diversity, preserving language, and democratizing access.
Fair Competition
To date, numerous communities who do not use a Latin-based writing system remain under-served by the domain name system. These communities have reasonable expectation of access and use to an equally useful DNS that other communities have enjoyed for decades.
It has been suggested that ICANN underfunded its global outreach communication campaign which directly contributed to only 6% of IDN TLD applications. It was disheartening to see the startlingly low budget allocated to the global outreach when compared to the other essential components of the program, such as the Independent Objector (250 to 17 ratio).
We recognise also that within the TLD market or even specifically the gTLD market, the percentage that IDN holds is negligible within the entire TLD market and at a very low 6% of the gTLD market. Fair competition demands that they be prioritized. There is a legitimate basis for positive discrimination towards IDN TLDs as this will begin the challenging work of bridging of this gap and not merely to the expansion of top level namespace.
The prioritization of IDN TLDs would alleviate these unfortunate circumstances and perhaps give exposure to IDN TLDs in anticipation of the program's second round.
The IDN portion of the TLD market needs to be nurtured so that there is room to grow.
Addressing the threat of balkanization
In the midst of numerous propositions for greater national oversight of the DNS and the controversial ensuing balkanization, the prioritization of IDN TLDs would be consistent with ICANN's commitment towards a unique authoritative root.
Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro
@ Rinalia...I would work further and re-edit this particularly the competition but am too frazzled at 5am and rushing to catch my flight today....
Rinalia Abdul Rahim
No worries, Sala. Thank you for the contribution.
Rinalia Abdul Rahim
Note:
The finalized ALAC Statement on the IDN Prioritization in the New gTLD Program was sent to the ICANN board via its Chairman by the ALAC Chair on Tue, 31 Jul 2012.
The finalized statement incorporates input from participants of the At-Large IDN Working Group Meeting at ICANN44 in Prague as well as additional contributions from Cheryl Langdon-Orr, Edmon Chung, Jean-Sebastien Lascary, Olivier Crepin-Leblond, Salanieta Tamanikaiwaimaro and Anonymous.