Implementation Advisory Group for Competition, Consumer Trust & Consumer Choice (IAG-CCT)
http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-24oct13-en.htm
17 December 2014
The IAG-CCT concluded its work in September 2014 and submitted its final report and recommendations to the Board. The Board will take up the matter at a future meeting in 2015. To read the final report and recommendations, please see: IAG-CCT report. As part of its recommendations, the IAG-CCT also revised the original GNSO and ALAC combined advice document: Combined GNSO and ALAC Advice REVISED1.pdf
While evaluating the original GNSO and ALAC suggested metrics, the IAG-CCT provided an interim recommendation on two subsets of metrics for immediate collection and flagged these to the ICANN Board at the ICANN 51 meeting in Singapore, as being sufficiently important to require additional funds to hire outside vendors. The two subsets represented metrics that would be gathered by a global survey of Internet users and domain registrants, and another that would explore pricing and marketing practices in new gTLDs. A Board resolution approving ICANN to issue RFPs for this work is available here: https://features.icann.org/collection-benchmarking-metrics-new-gtld-program-support-future-aoc-review-competition-consumer
ICANN has since concluded the RFP process for the consumer survey (https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2014-07-16-en). ICANN is working with the selected vendor, Nielsen, to have baseline data available by April 2015. The RFP (https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-09-08-en) for the economic study is not yet complete.
IAG-CCT Mandate
The IAG-CCT was formed to develop recommendations for the set of metrics to be collected by ICANN in preparation for a future review relating to New gTLDs[1]. As directed by the Board, ICANN is developing systems and collecting the metrics approved through this process.
The IAG-CCT was responsible for:
- Evaluating the feasibility, utility and cost-effectiveness of adopting the recommendations of the GNSO Council [PDF, 203 KB] and the At-Large Advisory Committee [PDF, 491 KB] (ALAC) with respect to the metrics to be used in conducting the review;
- Evaluating other inputs, including historical data regarding metrics used to evaluate earlier rounds of new gTLDs (2000, 2004);
- Engaging in outreach with the GNSO, ALAC and other interested ICANN stakeholders on the proposed metrics;
- Evaluating the staff analysis to be delivered to the IAG-CCT on the feasibility and utility of each of the proposed metrics, and whether the implementation costs are reasonable in light of the value of the information to be revealed;
- Proposing to ICANN a set of metrics to be compiled by ICANN in advance of the AoC review of the New gTLDs, if and when such review team is to be convened.
Where the proposed metrics from the IAG-CCT differ from those recommended by the GNSO Council or the ALAC, the Group is expected to consult with the GNSO and ALAC to share its rationale, and determine whether the collective set of metrics recommended by the Group sufficiently address the goals of the GNSO and the ALAC.
Background
ICANN announced a Revised Call for Volunteers to Evaluate Metrics Related to Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice on 17 September 2013. The current metrics and data gathering advice to be provided by the IAG-CCT is separate from a future call for volunteers to serve on a Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice (CCT) Review Team. The CCT Review will not occur until the AoC requirement has been met ('If and when new gTLDs … have been in operation for one year, ICANN will organize a review that will examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust and consumer choice, as well as effectiveness..").
The AoC calls for periodic reviews of four key ICANN objectives:
- Ensuring accountability, transparency and the interests of global Internet users;
- Preserving security, stability and resiliency of the DNS;
- Promoting competition, consumer trust and consumer choice;
- WHOIS policy.
More information is available on the ICANN web site.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE LAUNCH OF THE IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY GROUP FOR COMPETITION, CONSUMER TRUST AND CONSUMER CHOICE
24 October 2013
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Implementation Advisory Group for Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice (IAG-CCT). Forty-three (43) individuals responded to the Call for Volunteers. IAG-CCT is an open group convened to serve for a limited duration and scope, focusing exclusively on evaluating the proposed metrics for data gathering to support a future review that is mandated by the Affirmation of Commitments (AoC).[i]
We welcome the following volunteers as members of the newly convened IAG-CCT:
To track the work of this group, please visit the IAG-CCT Wiki.
IAG-CCT Schedule and Operations
The IAG-CCT is expected to commence its work in November 2013 and produce its recommendations by July 2014.
A kick-off conference call will be scheduled in early November.
The Group will hold a meeting at ICANN 48 in Buenos Aires on Wednesday, 20 November, 16:30 to 17:30 ART. Remote participation will be available and the meeting is open to all interested individuals. The IAG-CCT will be briefed on the status of work to date, including an introduction and overview of the project; overview of proposed metrics from the GNSO and the ALAC; and a staff update on the evaluation of proposed metrics.
A schedule of subsequent calls and meetings will be available on the IAG-CCT Conference Call Schedule.
[1] Affirmation of Commitments, 9.3: "ICANN will ensure that as it contemplates expanding the top-level domain space, the various issues that are involved (including competition, consumer protection, security, stability and resiliency, malicious abuse issues, sovereignty concerns, and rights protection) will be adequately addressed prior to implementation. If and when new gTLDs (whether in ASCII or other language character sets) have been in operation for one year, ICANN will organize a review that will examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust and consumer choice, as well as effectiveness of (a) the application and evaluation process, and (b) safeguards put in place to mitigate issues involved in the introduction or expansion. ICANN will organize a further review of its execution of the above commitments two years after the first review, and then no less frequently than every four years."
[i] Affirmation of Commitments, 9.3: "ICANN will ensure that as it contemplates expanding the top-level domain space, the various issues that are involved (including competition, consumer protection, security, stability and resiliency, malicious abuse issues, sovereignty concerns, and rights protection) will be adequately addressed prior to implementation. If and when new gTLDs (whether in ASCII or other language character sets) have been in operation for one year, ICANN will organize a review that will examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust and consumer choice, as well as effectiveness of (a) the application and evaluation process, and (b) safeguards put in place to mitigate issues involved in the introduction or expansion. ICANN will organize a further review of its execution of the above commitments two years after the first review, and then no less frequently than every four years."
