FINAL VERSION TO BE SUBMITTED IF RATIFIED
The final version to be submitted, if the draft is ratified, will be placed here by upon completion of the vote.
05 June 2018 ratified Statement:
FINAL DRAFT VERSION TO BE VOTED UPON BY THE ALAC
The final draft version to be voted upon by the ALAC will be placed here before the vote is to begin.
Supplementary Comment submitted by Jonathan Zuck, 20 June 2018
The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) provides its input on Verisign, Inc.’s (Verisign’s) proposed amendment within its Registry Request Service (RSEP) for ICANN to release for registration the “O.com” single character domain name (SCDN).[1] We support this proposition provided it offers the proceeds to charities nonprofit organizations that serve the public interest. As ICANN is aware, SCDNs have extraordinary value and prospects because of their simplicity and scarcity. We applaud ICANN for opening up a forum to discuss this important issue.
With that said, the ALAC proffers the following suggestions:
ICANN Should Permit the Release of O.com and Allow Verisign to Conduct a Third-Party Auction
As stated above, the ALAC supports ICANN releasing O.com. ICANN’s Generic Names Supporting Organization’s Reserved Names Working Group’s report demonstrates rather convincingly that there exists no real issues with SCDNs’ ability to function online. Additionally, the potential for the release of SCDN seemingly have no anticompetitive concerns.[2] Therefore, the ALAC suggests that Verisign conduct a third-party auction to ensure that transparency and fairness in the process are in place, because, as we explain in more detail below, it could yield benefits should Verisign invest into ventures that serve the public interest.
Third-Party Auction Service Providers Should Screen Candidates for Auction
Verisign should require the third-party auction service provider to pre-qualify potential registrants for participation in the auction. Additionally, the prospective registrants should submit documents that demonstrate and describe how they plan to use O.com, their ability to pay, and any and all relevant information that could assist the third-party auctioneer to ensure ICANN’s mission to serve the public interest (e.g., increasing digital literacy) is fulfilled. The ALAC strongly support the notion that O.com be registered by an entity determined to use the domain rather than profit from its resale.
Verisign Should Forfeit the Auction’s Proceeds and Renewals to Charity Non-Profit Entity
Irrespective of the auction’s format, the ALAC recommends that all proceeds from the O.com auction and renewals that follow go to charity to further the public interest a nonprofit organization(s) that will use the funds toward areas of public good of the Internet community. ALAC members have long supported this position. For example:
- Avri Doria submitted the idea of an SCDN auction with the “proceeds going to the public good” given their rarity.[3] She recommended that single-letter domain names at second level auctions “should be contingent on [] establishing a separate fund for a benevolent foundation that would receive all of the income above costs from these auctions.”
- Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond suggested that “[i]f single letter domains are so expensive because of their scarcity, why not make them as expensive as 3G licenses and pay the premium fee towards network development & training in developing countries? Any other use of any premium funds paid is just another gift to registries.”[4]
The ALAC believes that Verisign’s plan as articulated in its RSEP furthers this goal. However, given that many of the listed charities nonprofit organizations are redacted, the ALAC wishes Verisign to provide the ALAC with a comprehensive list of all potential charities nonprofit organization t o ensure full transparency in this process.
We appreciate the opportunity to share our views on this matter. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration on this important issue.
[1] Verisign’s Registry Request (Ticket ID: B6H5U-2X7N1) at https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/rsep-2017038-com-request-30nov17-en.pdf.
[2] 14-Dec-2017 DoJ Letter, at https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/hoag-to-jeffrey-14dec17-en.pdf
[3] See. https://forum.icann.org/lists/allocationmethods/msg00007.html.
[4] See. https://forum.icann.org/lists/allocationmethods/msg00023.html.
Note editorial changes Red for DELETE; Blue for ADD
FIRST DRAFT SUBMITTED
The first draft submitted will be placed here before the call for comments begins.
Supplementary Comment submitted by Jonathan Zuck, 20 June 2018
The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) provides its input on Verisign, Inc.’s (Verisign’s) proposed amendment within its Registry Request Service (RSEP) for ICANN to release for registration the “O.com” single character domain name (SCDN).[1] We support this proposition provided it offers the proceeds to charities that serve the public interest. As ICANN is aware, SCDNs have extraordinary value and prospects because of their simplicity and scarcity. We applaud ICANN for opening up a forum to discuss this important issue.
With that said, the ALAC proffers the following suggestions:
ICANN Should Permit the Release of O.com and Allow Verisign to Conduct a Third-Party Auction
As stated above, the ALAC supports ICANN releasing O.com. ICANN’s Generic Names Supporting Organization’s Reserved Names Working Group’s report demonstrates rather convincingly that there exists no real issues with SCDNs’ ability to function online. Additionally, the potential for the release of SCDN seemingly have no anticompetitive concerns.[2] Therefore, the ALAC suggests that Verisign conduct a third-party auction to ensure that transparency and fairness in the process are in place, because, as we explain in more detail below, it could yield benefits should Verisign invest into ventures that serve the public interest.
Third-Party Auction Service Providers Should Screen Candidates for Auction
Verisign should require the third-party auction service provider to pre-qualify potential registrants for participation in the auction. Additionally, the prospective registrants should submit documents that demonstrate and describe how they plan to use O.com, their ability to pay, and any and all relevant information that could assist the third-party auctioneer to ensure ICANN’s mission to serve the public interest (e.g., increasing digital literacy) is fulfilled. The ALAC strongly support the notion that O.com be registered by an entity determined to use the domain rather than profit from its resale.
Verisign Should Forfeit the Auction’s Proceeds and Renewals to Charity
Irrespective of the auction’s format, the ALAC recommends that all proceeds from the O.com auction and renewals that follow go to charity to further the public interest. ALAC members have long supported this position. For example:
- Avri Doria submitted the idea of an SCDN auction with the “proceeds going to the public good” given their rarity.[3] She recommended that single-letter domain names at second level auctions “should be contingent on [] establishing a separate fund for a benevolent foundation that would receive all of the income above costs from these auctions.”
- Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond suggested that “[i]f single letter domains are so expensive because of their scarcity, why not make them as expensive as 3G licenses and pay the premium fee towards network development & training in developing countries? Any other use of any premium funds paid is just another gift to registries.”[4]
The ALAC believes that Verisign’s plan as articulated in its RSEP furthers this goal. However, given that many of the listed charities are redacted, the ALAC wishes Verisign to provide the ALAC with a comprehensive list of all potential charities to ensure full transparency in this process.
We appreciate the opportunity to share our views on this matter. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration on this important issue.
[1] Verisign’s Registry Request (Ticket ID: B6H5U-2X7N1) at https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/rsep-2017038-com-request-30nov17-en.pdf.
[2] 14-Dec-2017 DoJ Letter, at https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/hoag-to-jeffrey-14dec17-en.pdf
[3] See. https://forum.icann.org/lists/allocationmethods/msg00007.html.
[4] See. https://forum.icann.org/lists/allocationmethods/msg00023.html.
First Statement ratified, 05 June 2018:
Given the lack of both stability and competition concerns, the ALAC believes the introduction of O.com represents no downside to end users. The ALAC further suggests that the proceeds of the auction be used to make concrete progress on universal acceptance, one of the primary frustrations of end users with regards to the introduction of new top level domains.