Dear All, On 10 May 2010, the ALAC submitted a Statement on IDNs<http://www.atlarge.icann.org/correspondence/correspondence-3-10may10-en.htm> to the ICANN Board in response to the following public consultations related to IDNs: IDN Variants<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201004-en.htm#variants>, IDN 3 Character<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201004-en.htm#3-char> , Chairs Draft Interim Paper for Policy on Introduction of IDN ccTLDs<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201004-en.htm#idn-cctl...> and the Proposed Implementation Plan for Synchronized IDN ccTLDs<http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201004-en.htm#synch>. Please see the response below from Tina Dam, Senior Director IDNs: I think this is an appropriate standpoint by the ALAC - and I feel certain that we all agree with it. The difficulty is implementing this in the gTLD process as well as in the fast Track Process. Our first attempt was back in February 2009. The latest attempt was recently in April. These two attempts are quite similar, but not successful yet. We do, on the staff side, have the opportunity to discuss this over with the Board working group formed for this purpose. We are currently discussing overall plans with them and we hope to be able to come out with some more information in time for the Brussels meeting - although this would be separate to the gTLD and the fast Track programs. Feel free to share the information with ALAC. Tina Tina Dam Senior Director IDNs Kind regards, Heidi Heidi Ullrich Director for At-Large Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Telephone: + 1 (310) 578 - 8647 Fax: +1 (310) 823 - 8649 Cell/Mobile: +1 (310) 437 - 3956