Dear ALAC Colleagues, There are urgent emerging issues related to the new gTLD string contention that the EXCOMM believes warrant an ALAC intervention. With the support of Evan, I have taken the liberty of drafting an ALAC response for your immediate input. We need to submit the statements by the second week of August (latest) to have the possibility of an ICANN response before community priority evaluation begins. Please do try your best to provide comments for improvements or endorsements if you like the text/intent via the wiki page indicated by Thursday (8 August 2013). Policy Development wiki page links and statement text pasted below for your quick review. If the wiki link is not active, kindly copy and paste the URL for activation. Thank you! Best regards, Rinalia *1. ALAC Statement on Preferential Treatment for Community Applications in String Contention* WIKI page for your comments: https://community.icann.org/display/alacpolicydev/ALAC+STATEMENT+ON+PREFEREN... *DRAFT ALAC STATEMENT ON PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR COMMUNITY APPLICATIONS IN STRING CONTENTION* The ALAC notes that due to strict eligibility criteria, some of the new gTLD applications intended for communities and with wide public/grassroots support were not submitted as community applications. These applications are currently in contention with those that are fully commercial (i.e., driven purely by financial gain). We firmly believe that applications with demonstrable support, appropriate safeguards and emphasis on community service over revenue maximization should be accorded preferential treatment in the new gTLD string contention resolution process. We thus support the position of the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) as per the GAC Communiqué dated 18 July 2013 and call on ICANN to review all 688 applications currently in contention and provide preferential treatment to applications that meet the specification described above. END *2. ALAC Statement on Community Expertise in Community Priority Evaluation* WIKI page for your comments: https://community.icann.org/display/alacpolicydev/ALAC+STATEMENT+ON+COMMUNIT... *DRAFT ALAC STATEMENT ON COMMUNITY EXPERTISE IN COMMUNITY PRIORITY EVALUATION* The ALAC has concerns about the sufficiency of community expertise in panels that evaluate new gTLD community applications in string contention processes. We believe that the evaluations have significant implications for community applications and require sufficient and relevant community-related expertise in panels that evaluate the applications. In providing this advice we draw from the learning provided by the failure of the new gTLD Applicant Support Program. *Community Priority Evaluation * Module 4 of the Applicant Guidebook specifies that the Community Priority Evaluation is applicable only for community-based applicants. The evaluation is an independent analysis (i.e., not dependent on prior applicant review results) and that any community application that passes the Evaluation will “eliminate all directly contending standard applications, regardless of how well qualified the latter may be.” Furthermore, community applications that fail the Evaluation will proceed into auction involving all contending parties where they may be at a disadvantage against fully commercial applications. As per the new gTLD Program Timeline indicated at http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/timelines, we note that the string contention resolution process will begin in September 2013. We also note that the Economist Intelligence Unit and InterConnect Communications have been appointed as service providers for the Community Priority Evaluation Panel (see new gTLD Program Update at the ICANN Dakar Meeting in 2011). We have concerns that these entities may have a natural familiarity and pre-disposition toward business that may discriminate against applications emphasizing community service over revenue-maximization. The ALAC thus calls for community-related expertise in the Community Priority Evaluation Panel and stands ready to offer appropriate and un-conflicted ICANN community volunteers to serve as panel members or advisors. END