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FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC

The ALAC has concerns about the sufficiency of community expertise in panels that evaluate new gTLD community applications.  This concern stems from the experience gained by the failure of the new gTLD Applicant Support Program.  

The Community Priority Evaluation has significant implications for communities: 

Module 4 of the Applicant Guidebook specifies that the Community Priority Evaluation is applicable only for community-based applicants.  The evaluation is an independent analysis which is not dependent on prior applicant review results. Any community application passing the Evaluation will “eliminate all directly contending standard applications, regardless of how well qualified the latter may be”.  Community applications failing the Evaluation will proceed into auction involving all contending parties where they may be at a disadvantage against fully commercial applications. 

The panel tasked to conduct such an important evaluation must have sufficient and relevant community-related expertise.
 

As per the new gTLD Program Timeline published at http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/timelines, we note that the string contention resolution process will begin in September 2013.  We also note that the Economist Intelligence Unit and InterConnect Communications have been appointed as service providers for the Community Priority Evaluation Panel, as published in the new gTLD Program Update at the ICANN Dakar Meeting in 2011.  

We have concerns that these entities may have a natural familiarity and pre-disposition toward business that may discriminate against applications emphasizing community service.

The ALAC therefore calls for additional community-related expertise in the Community Priority Evaluation Panel and stands ready to offer appropriate ICANN community volunteers to serve as panel members or advisors.END

FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED

The ALAC has concerns about the sufficiency of community expertise in panels that evaluate new gTLD community applications in string contention processes.

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