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Cc: Rod Beckstrom

Dear Steve

In December 2012 both the ccNSO and GNSO Councils discussed the current status of the introduction of Single Character IDN TLDs. Noting the ICANN Board resolution on this topic\[[1]\|https://community.icann.org/#_ftn1\], the discussions were initiated by concerns raised by the joint ccNSO/GNSO IDN Working Group (JIG).
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Following their discussion, both the ccNSO and GNSO Councils reiterate their support for the introduction of Single Character IDN TLD’s.  However, the Councils also requestand  further clarification from the Board on three matters.

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Looking forward to your response,

Kind regards,

 ccNSO  ccNSO Letter

To: Chair of the ICANN Board of Directors

Cc: Rod Beckstrom

Dear Steve

At its meeting on 22 December the ccNSO Council extensively discussed the current status of the introduction of Single Character IDN TLDs. Noting the ICANN Board resolution on this topic\[[1]\|https://community.icann.org/#_ftn1\],

  the Council discussion was initiated by concerns raised by the joint ccNSO/GNSO IDN Working Group (JIG).
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Following its discussion, the ccNSO Council reiterates its support for the introduction of Single Character IDN TLD’s.  However, the ccNSO Council also requests further clarification from the Board on three matters.

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Lesley Cowley OBE

Chair of the ccNSO

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\[[1]\|https://community.icann.org/#_ftnref1\] [http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25aug11-en.htm#5\\

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Lesley Cowley OBE                                                                                       Stephane van Gelder,

Chair of the ccNSO                                                                                        Chair of the GNSO

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\[[1]\|https://community.icann.org/#_ftnref1\] [http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25aug11-en.htm#5]

3 Joint ccNSO/GNSO letter approved by the GNSO Council - 15 DECEMBER 2011
http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201112

NOW THEREFORE RESOLVED that, upon the mutual resolution from both the GNSO and ccNSO councils on the subject, the Council Chairs would send to the ICANN Board the following letter in response to their August 2011 resolution on Single Character IDN TLDs:

JIG (Joint ccNSO/GNSO IDN Working Group) Response to ICANN Board Resolution on Single Character IDN TLDs

Dear ICANN Board,

First of all, we appreciate activity at the ICANN Board regarding Single Character IDN TLDs.  In response to the August 2011 resolution (http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25aug11-en.htm#5) however, we express our disappointment and concern on 3 critical aspects:

    Both the ccNSO and the GNSO councils have at multiple occasions expressed a consensus principle that the introduction of IDN gTLDs or IDN ccTLDs should not be delayed because of lack of readiness of one category.  The August 2011 Board resolution (by specifying that “processes for delegation of single-character IDN TLDs will be made available after the first gTLD application round and conclusion of IDN ccTLD policy work.”) perhaps inadvertently conflicted with this community consensus understanding and should be rectified or clarified.

    The issue of Single Character IDN TLDs have gone through at least 4 rounds of community discussions, including at the GNSO IDN WG (http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/idn-wg-fr-22mar07.htm^{Image Added}), the GNSO Reserved Names WG (http://gnso.icann.org/issues/new-gtlds/final-report-rn-wg-23may07.htm^{Image Added}), incorporated into the GNSO New gTLD recommendations (http://gnso.icann.org/issues/new-gtlds/pdp-dec05-fr-parta-08aug07.htm^{Image Added}), and of course the JIG report (http://ccnso.icann.org/workinggroups/jig-final-report-single-character-idns-30mar11-en.pdf).&nbsp^{Image Added}; Each time there is consistent consensus support from the community for allowing Single Character IDN TLDs in the new gTLD process (including the first round), and no objections were received from any of the ACs.  The August 2011 Board resolution specifying that Single Character IDN TLDs not be included in the first round ignores this repeated community consensus without reasonable rationale.

    While the August 2011 Board resolution generally requested input from a collection of ACs, there is a lack of progressive direction towards the implementation of Single Character IDN TLDs.  Furthermore, while input from ACs is always welcome, given the multitude of public comment periods already conducted for the subject, including participation from SSAC members, with consistent consensus response, such consultation with ACs should not become an arbitrary hurdle for the implementation of Single Character IDN TLDs, especially for the New gTLD process.

Single Character IDN TLDs is not simply a “good to have” feature, but a necessary requirement for some of the IDN communities in order to allow broadly attractive and competitive gTLDs.  As an example, for Chinese IDN TLDs, the prohibition of Single Character IDN TLDs would effectively devoid the community of single-syllable-single-word TLDs, which is otherwise acceptable for English and other alphabetic based language TLDs (e.g. “.word” would be an acceptable ASCII single-syllable-single-word TLD, yet a similar single-syllable-single-word TLD “.字” would not be acceptable for Chinese), creating an unjustified situation of inequity, and significantly hindering the adoption of IDN.

The JIG, through the ccNSO and GNSO councils therefore sincerely urges the Board to:

    Implement the community consensus of allowing Single Character IDN TLDs without restricting such implementation to being after the first round of the new gTLD process, and to decouple the requirement that IDN ccTLD or IDN gTLD mechanisms wait for the other;

    If necessary, form an implementation team to assist staff in immediately implementing Single Character IDN TLDs for scripts and languages where the input of a Single Character requires multiple keystrokes (e.g. ideographical scripts, and avoiding the potential technical concern of keyboard layouts identified in the JIG report), and for the team to further guide implementation for other scripts as well as coordinate input from the ACs; and,

    Update or amend the New gTLD Applicant Guidebook for such implementation before the application period for the first round is over.

The JIG and the significantly affected language communities are prepared to support ICANN staff and Board in the swift implementation of Single Character IDN TLDs without compromising the security and stability of the Internet.  The JIG further believes that minor adjustments to the Applicant Guidebook would suffice and is ready to work with staff closely to complete its implementation.

We look forward to the positive response and actions from the Board.

Sincerely,

ccNSO Council (approval: \[LINK\])

GNSO Council (approval: \[LINK\])

JIG -- Joint ccNSO/GNSO IDN Working Group
The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.