The Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery PDP has posted their Initial Report. You will recall that the PDP was initiated by an ALAC Request for Issues Report. The Public Comment Period is open at http://icann.org/en/public-comment/#pednr-initial-report. It is scheduled to close on August 1, but hopefully it will be extended. A ALAC comment on this report has been drafted. It can be found at https://st.icann.org/gnso-liaison/index.cgi?at_large_gnso_liaison#pednr. It is also reproduced below for your convenience. The comment follows the expected outcomes outlined in the initial Request for Issues Report and also is in line with the views of the majority of At-Large participants in the Working Group. The only substantive variation is one person who believes that e-mail should continue to work after expiration, up until the time the domain is actually deleted/sold - the other participants feel that since earlier notices have either not been delivered or have been ignored, "breaking" e-mail as well as web and other services is the only thing likely to alert a registrant to the potential loss of their domain. Approval of this comment by the ALAC will indicate that At-Large is still behind its original request. Also, note the message that is also going to the At-Large list at this time. RALO leaders should encourage their ALS participants to complete the survey attached to the Public Comment Period. Alan -------------------------------------- The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) requested the Issues Report which resulted in the Post-Expiration Domain Name Recovery PDP, and it strongly supports the activities of the Working Group. It is essential that the post-expiration "safety net" that existed several years ago be restored. Moreover, the domain industry is sufficiently robust and mature that it can and must provide a level of predictability and security to gTLD domain name holders. In line with the desired outcomes stated in the original Issue Report request, the ALAC supports: 1. Consensus policy requiring that all registrars must allow renewal of domain names for a reasonable amount of time after expiration. 2. Consensus policy explicitly stating the minimum requirements for pre-expiration notices. 3. Consensus policy requiring clarity of how messages will be sent. 4. Consensus policy requiring that WHOIS contents to make it clear that a domain name has expired and has not yet been renewed by the registrant. 5. Consensus policy requiring that notice(s) be sent after expiration. 6. Consensus policy requiring that web sites (port 80) no longer can resolve to the original web site after expiration. 7. Consensus policy requiring that other uses of the domain name (e-mail, FTP, etc.) no longer function after expiration. 8. Consensus policy requiring clarity in the expiration terms and fees offered by registrars. 9. Consensus policy requiring that the Redemption Grace Period be offered by all registries (including future gTLDs) and by all registrars. It is understood that there may be unusual cases where the business models of some registrars may require exceptions to some of these policies. However, the need for such exceptions should not deny the vast majority of registrants a predictable and safe gTLD eco-system. Over and above these minimum requirements, the ALAC supports a move within the registrar community to establish the meaningful and transparent concept of "best practices".