AT-LARGE GATEWAY
At-Large Regional Policy Engagement Program (ARPEP)
At-Large Review Implementation Plan Development
Page History
Introduction
The ICANN Board requested in its meeting in Nairobi stakeholders of SOs and ACs to develop an approach to providing support to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs (resolution in italics).
Whereas numerous stakeholders have, on various occasions, expressed concern about the cost of applying for new gTLDs, and suggested that these costs might hinder applicants requiring assistance, especially those from developing countries
Resolved (2010.03.12.46), the Board recognizes the importance of an inclusive New gTLD Program.
Resolved (2010.03.12.47), the Board requests stakeholders to work through their SOs and ACs, and form a Working Group to develop a sustainable approach to providing support to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs."
Two ICANN Working Groups are tackling this topic: the first is addressing the categorization of applications and has already come up with a draft report, and the second (Joint SO/AC Working Group on New gTLD Applicant Support) has just started its work, and its duty is to evaluate and propose policy recommendations regarding support to new gTLD applicants in justified cases.
Some of the AFRALO members participate in one or both WGs and work to have the African Point of View reflected in the recommendations.
AFRALO (African Regional At-Large Organization) decided in its April 2010 monthly teleconference to hold a joint meeting with the whole African community participating in the Brussels meeting to discuss the possible support for new gTLD applicants as per the Board resolution in Nairobi, and bring the African point of view to the working group.
idea to organize a joint meeting for the African Regional At-Large Organisation (AFRALO) and AfrICANN developped shortly after the ICANN Nairobi meeting in early 2010. In the context of the global discussion on New gTLDs, the African ICANN participants wanted to formulate and publish an African position on new gTLDs reflecting the positions of all African stakeholders.
The first joint meeting, held at the ICANN Brussels meeting in June 2010 proved to be a great success and led to a second In October 2010, AFRALO and the members of the AfrICANN caucus decided to prepare another joint event at the ICANN Cartagena meeting in December 2010.
AFRALO/AfrICANN WG Meetings:
- 26 November 2010
- 15 November 2010
- 04 November 2010
- 16 June 2010
- 11 June 2010
- 28 May 2010
- 21 May 2010
- 07 May 2010
Draft Programme of the Joint AFRALO-AfrICANN Meeting in Cartagena
Moderateur: Fatimata Seye Sylla
Rapporteur: Dave Kissoondoyal
Agenda:
- Introduction and Purpose of Meeting - (Moderator: Fatimata Seye Sylla) (5 min)
- Follow-up on Joint African Statement in light of recent developments in the new gTLD program (20 min)
- Presentation by Avri Doria and Evan Leibovitch
- Africans' participation in the ICANN policy developpement (with Filiz Yilmaz, Senior Director of Participation and Engagement, ICANN)(20 min)
- Next Steps (Fatimata Seye Sylla, Tijani Ben Jemaa and Dave Kissoondoyal) (15 min)
Milestones, Members and Mission of WG to prepare the joint AFRALO/AfrICANN meeting in Brussels
Draft Programme of the Joint AFRALO-AfrICANN Meeting in Brussels
- Introduction and Purpose of Meeting (Moderator)
- Results of Joint SO/AC WG on New gTLD Applicant Support for developing countries
- Presentations (TBC) * Experience of African applicants of new gTLDs
- Roundtable discussion on proposed Statement to the Board
- Wrap-up and next steps (Rapporteur)
Background Material
- Board resolution 20:
At the ICANN meeting in Nairobi on 12 March 2010, the ICANN Board of Directors adopted the following resolution:
"20. Support for Applicants Requesting New gTLD Applicants
Whereas, the launch of the New gTLD Program will bring fundamental change to the marketplace, including competition and innovation;
Whereas, the evolution of relationships and restrictions on relationships between registries and registrars have been a center of discussion and analysis;
Whereas, the introduction of new gTLDs will bring change and opportunity for innovation, new services and benefits for users and registrants;
Whereas, ICANN aims to ensure that the New gTLD Program is inclusive, along the lines of the organization's strategic objectives;
Whereas, ICANN has a requirement to recover the costs of new gTLD applications and on-going services to new gTLDs; and
Whereas numerous stakeholders have, on various occasions, expressed concern about the cost of applying for new gTLDs, and suggested that these costs might hinder applicants requiring assistance, especially those from developing countries.
Resolved (2010.03.12.46), the Board recognizes the importance of an inclusive New gTLD Program.
Resolved (2010.03.12.47), the Board requests stakeholders to work through their SOs and ACs, and form a Working Group to develop a sustainable approach to providing support to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs ."
- Draft JAS SO/AC Working Group Charter:
Preamble:
The Joint SO/AC Working Group on New gTLD Applicant Support shall evaluate and propose recommendations regarding specific support to new gTLD applicants in justified cases. The working group expects to identify suitable criteria for provision of such support, to identify suitable support forms and to identify potential providers of such support. However, there is no presumption that the outcome will imply any particular governing structure. Accordingly, if the recommendations indicate that the preferred solutions are of a voluntary nature, the criteria and other provisions arrived at in line with the objectives below will solely serve as advice to the parties concerned. The objectives are not listed in any priority order. An overall consideration is that the outcomes of the WG should not lead to delays of the New gTLD process.
Objective 1:
To identify suitable criteria that new gTLD applicants must fulfill to qualify for dedicated support. The criteria may be different for different types of support identified in line with Objective 2 and 3 below.
Objective 2:
To identify how the application fee can be reduced and/or subsidized to accommodate applicants that fulfill appropriate criteria to qualify for this benefit, in keeping with the principle of full cost recovery of the application process costs.
Objective 3:
To identify what kinds of support (e.g. technical assistance, organizational assistance, financial assistance, fee reduction) and support timelines (e.g. support for the application period only, continuous support) are appropriate for new gTLD applicants fulfilling identified criteria.
Objective 4:
To identify potential providers of the identified kinds of support as well as appropriate mechanisms to enable support provisioning.
Objective 5:
To identify conditions and mechanisms required to minimize the risk of inappropriate access to support.
Operating procedures for the Working Group:
The Working Group will operate according to the interim working group guidelines set out in the Draft Working guidelines of 5 Feb 2010
Milestones:
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Dates
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Tasks/Goals
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29 April
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First Conf. Call. preparations for chair election and charter. Work planning
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10 May
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Adoption of charter by participating SOs and ACs
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5 May - 9 June
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Weekly conference calls. Drafting of recommendation.
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15 June
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Posting of "snapshot" on WG's plans and progress for public comment
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21 - 25 June
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Community discussions during ICANN Brussels Meeting
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10 July - 10 August
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Weekly conference calls resumed, development of final recommendation based on public comments received.
In addition to a follow up on new gTLD developments, the second meeting focused on ways to strenghten ICANN's volunteer model.
The Third joint meeting will be held at the ICANN San Francisco meeting in March 2011. Its key topic will be the possible revision of ICANN's geographic regions.
Joint AFRALO/AfrICANN Meetings
2013 Meetings
20 November 2013 - Buenos Aires
2012 Meetings
2011 Meetings
2010 Meetings
Joint AFRALO/AfrICANN WG Statements
AFRALO/AfrICANN Preparatory Meetings:
- 10 February 2011
- 26 November 2010
- 15 November 2010
- 04 November 2010
- 16 June 2010
- 11 June 2010
- 28 May 2010
- 21 May 2010
- 07 May 2010
Background Material
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13 August
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Promotional Material
The At-Large brochure will be distributed during the joint AFRALO/AfrICANN meeting. You may review it in alacafralo:English and alacafralo:French .under: http://www.atlarge.icann.org/afralo/outreach-materials
Milestones, Members and Mission of WG to prepare the joint AFRALO/AfrICANN meeting in Brussels
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COMMENTS:
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Please correct Didier's last name.
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