The WHOIS Accuracy Program Specification of the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement requires registrars to validate and verify defined data fields, such as phone number, email and postal address.Included in the validation requirements of the Specification is the Across Field Validation requirement. This is a open requirement for registrars to validate the registrant’s postal address fields, and confirm consistency across fields e.g. street exists in city, city exists in state/province, city matches postal code.

The 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement requires ICANN to review these requirements in consultation with the Registrar WHOIS Validation Working Group to identify a set of tools that will enable accredited registrars to complete these validation actions.These actions should contribute to increased accuracy rating of physical address information associated with the registered name holder.

ICANN has identified a set of commercial providers offering global address validation tool-sets. If the Registrar WHOIS Validation Working Group and ICANN are able to mutually agree upon a solution(s) that is technically and commercially feasible all applicable documentation will be published accordingly.

The intent of the Strawman Proposal is to gather feedback upon review and reach a consensus regarding next steps between ICANN and the Registrar WHOIS Validation Working Group. Ultimately, the objective of ICANN is to come to a mutual agreement that will result in a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) vote in support of the defined solution(s) by the ICANN Accredited Registrars.

The Registrar WHOIS Validation Working Group and ICANN will mutually agree upon and approve a designated of Address Validation Service Providers . Registrars shall choose a provider(s) and implement the address validation tool-set(s) based on the obligation within the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement.

Read the Strawman Proposal  AFAV Strawman Proposal .pdf

ICANN 57 Address Cross Field Validation Presentation