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AT-LARGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

ALAC Statement on
the Proposed Roadmap for Universal Acceptance Initiativeof TLDs Draft Roadmap

Preamble

Universal Acceptance refers to the universal and consistent ability to use Top-Level Domains (TLDs), whether existing, Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) ccTLDs, or new gTLDs, “...regardless of the written script, and length or newness of the TLD”. Universal Acceptance is a critical factor to foster and ensure competition, consumer trust and choice in the DNS marketplace.

The Universal Acceptance Initiative (UAI) is an internal initiative of ICANN that attempts to address these concerns using ICANN's multistakeholder constituencies in a collaborative and co-ordinated coordinated manner, applying additional resources as required. UAI focuses not only on IDNs, but all TLDs.

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1. From an end-user perspective, Universal Acceptance is very important for upholding the public trust in the evolving Domain Name Ecosystem, and for facilitating the participation of large sections of populations in the world hitherto excluded from utilizing DNS because of the lack of support for their scripts.

2. The ALAC places on record its appreciation for ICANN for the 's efforts taken to release the draft roadmap. The roadmap, when implemented, will be of significant benefit to end-user communities that the ALAC represents.

3. Given the large number of stakeholders who need to work together to achieve Universal Acceptance—including DNS operators, software vendors, service providers, protocol & standard bodies, system & network operators, security practitioners and end users—it is important to ensure that there is frequent and free-flowing interactions between these stakeholders.

4. The ALAC recommends the creation of a intermediate-term, cross-community mechanism that not only provides facilitation for stakeholder interactions, but also allows organizational retention of issues as well as learnings, acting as a knowledge base for all aspects of Universal Acceptance

5. The ALAC also recommends monitoring of progress of the UAI based on progress indicators that are jointly identified as part of the above mechanism, so that there is clarity on the progress of the initiative.

6. The ALAC reiterates the need for ongoing advocacy with all stakeholder communities, and particularly end-user communities, for the dissemination of information on Universal Acceptance.

7. The ALAC recommends that ICANN explores the use of light-weight mechanisms that allow quick validation of TLDs so as to enhance end-user trust

8. When targeting end-users, these advocacy and outreach efforts need to be undertaken in consultation with the At-Large community.

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FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED

AT-LARGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

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