This page will be used to coordinate APRALO and AFRALO activities at the IGF in Baku, Azerbaijan.
AFRALO Planned Activities:
ICANN AFRALO Workshop
2012 IGF, Baku (Azerbaijan)
Title: New gTLD program: an opportunity for development or a means for more digital divide?
Number: 61
Status: Accepted as a feeder workshop to the main session on IG4D
Main Theme: Internet Governance for Development [IG4D]
Theme Question: Pending Expansion of the Top Level Domain Space: Q1 and 2
Date: Day 2, 7 November 2012
Time: 09:00 – 10:30
Room: Conference Room #1
Concise Description of Workshop:
In January 2012, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) launched the new generic Top Level Domains (gTLD) program, consisting of considerably expanding the top level domain space for up to 500 new gTLDs. We will probably see the first strings delegated early next year. This program will transform the Internet landscape by multiplying the number of the generic top level domains by 30, and creating new Internet registries and registrars. It will have an important economic effect that can either positively impact the development of the developing countries, or increase the already existing digital, economic and social divide. The speakers will explain in which case the so called new gTLD program may bring development opportunities to the developing countries’ economy and what are the obstacles that might prevent those countries from the benefit of the economic effect of the top level domain space expansion. Issues such as application and operation cost, community needs, linguistic and cultural diversity, public interest values, related to the new gTLDs program will be addressed. Speakers from all regions around the world are chosen for their high level of expertise and interest in the Internet domains. The gender balance issue is also carefully considered.
Organizers Name: African Regional At-Large Organization (AFRALO) @ ICANN
- Chair: Fatimata Seye Sylla (Ms.)
- Vice-Chair: Tijani BEN JEMAA (Mr.)
Contact: tijani.benjemaa@fmai.org
Previous Workshop:
http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=W...
Submitted Workshop Panelists:
Ms. Fatimata Seye Sylla AFRALO Chair not yet Confirmed (Senegal)
Mr. Zahid Jamil Barrister-at-Law Confirmed (Pakistan)
Ms. Avri DORIA Research consultant Confirmed (USA)
Mr. Dev Anand Teelucksingh Administrator Confirmed (Trinidad)
Ms. Sandra Hoferichter admin. Coord. of EuroDIG Confirmed (Germany)
Mr. Mohamed El Bashir, ccTLD operator - Confirmed (Qatar)
Ms. Hong Xue, Professor of Law Confirmed (China)
Mr. Tijani BEN JEMAA, AFRALO V.Chair & ALAC member Confirmed (Tunisia)
Name of Remote Moderator:
Mr. Olivier Crépin Leblond ALAC Chair Confirmed (France)
Name of Rapporteur to the main session:
Mr. Tijani BEN JEMAA
APRALO Planned Activities:
ICANN APRALO WORKSHOP
Internet Governance Forum 2012 (Baku, Azerbaijan)
Title: (No.122) New gTLDs: Implications and Potential for Community Engagement, Advocacy and Development
Organisers: Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization of ICANN (APRALO) & DotKids Foundation, Asia-Pacific
Theme: Internet Governance for Development [IG4D]
Theme Question: Pending Expansion of the Top Level Domain Space
Special Status: Feeder Workshop for IG4D Thematic Cluster.
Workshop Description:
The ICANN’s new generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) programme is a big topic within the Internet industry, but appears to have received little community interest with only 4% of new gTLD applications marked as being community-related. Few measures have been taken to facilitate the participation and engagement of communities, particularly those from the developing world. Keeping in mind that the Internet should remain open and diverse, the new gTLD process should also reflect this principle and support the participation of communities and NGOs in addition to that of businesses. This workshop will consider the implications and potential of new gTLDs for community engagement, advocacy and development. It aims to uncover the difficulties encountered by some communities in participating in the new gTLD process and to identify the type of support needed for effective engagement.
Aspects to be covered by the workshop include:
1. Potential of New gTLDs in Community Engagement, Development and Advocacy
(a) Can new gTLDs support community engagement, development and advocacy? If so, how, and are there examples where learning can be drawn? (b) What impact would ownership of gTLD registry have on this potential (i.e., does it make a difference if a community gTLD Registry is operated by the community itself or by a business entity?)
2. Boundaries of Developing World Communities
Entities from the developing world are usually given priority in development programmes. However, there are many minorities or under-served communities that are transnational and cannot be clearly defined as from the developing world. The “kids” community is one such example. Other examples may include the African diaspora beyond the African continent. How can the engagement of such communities be encouraged and on what basis can prioritization of new gTLD applications from such communities be argued?
3. Funding Support and Sustainable Business Models
NGOs and communities may have a low economic capability given their not-for-profit nature. For example, it is common for them to encounter difficulties in securing commercial funding. (a) In cases where communities would like to “own” their new gTLD registries, what kind of funding support should be accorded to them and what kind of business models can they adopt to ensure sustainability? (b) What kind of partnerships with business entities would be supportive of community ownership?
4. Awareness Raising and Capacity Building
Many NGOs or communities are still unfamiliar with the Internet, let alone gTLDs.
(a) What are effective ways of facilitating their understanding of domain names and gTLDs in particular? (b) What kind of support would be needed from industry players to help communities navigate the complex and expertise-based requirements of the new gTLD application and implementation process?
Workshop Role Players:
Moderator: Rinalia Abdul Rahim, ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization of ICANN (APRALO) (Confirmed)
Panelists:
- Fouad Bajwa, Pakistan ICT Monitor, Pakistan (Confirmed)
- Olga Cavali, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina (Confirmed)
- Edmon Chung, DotAsia Organisation, Asia Pacific (Confirmed)
- Avri Doria, Luleå University of Technology, Northern Europe (Confirmed)
- Koffi Fabrice Djossou, DotAfrica, Africa (Confirmed)
- Andrei Kolesnikov, Coordination Centre for TLD RU, Russia (Confirmed)
- Cheryl Langdon-Orr, .au Domain Administration Ltd, Australia (Confirmed)
- Yannis Li, DotKids Foundation, Asia (Confirmed)
Remote Moderator: Bianca Ho, NetMission Ambassador, Asia Pacific (Confirmed)
Feeder Workshop Rapporteur to Main Session: Rinalia Abdul Rahim, ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and Asia, Australasia and Pacific Islands Regional At-Large Organization of ICANN (APRALO) (Confirmed)
Administrative Contact: Yannis Li (Yannis@registry.asia)
[Note - Feeder workshops are scheduled before main sessions, focus on the specific issues relevant to Baku meeting themes, act as leaders to relevant main sessions, and assign a rapporteur whose role will include: attending the relevant main session, giving a brief overview of the session's discussions and taking part in a one hour round table session that will immediately precede the main session on that topic. They should also be available to act as a resource to the moderators of the relevant main session. To the extent possible, participants from the feeder workshops are also encouraged to attend the main sessions related to the feeder workshops, in order to broaden the discussions on the sub-themes of the sessions.]
