From the ALAC announce list:

Statement on the New gTLD Programme Application Process v2 (ATLAS WG3). Consultation closes 25 April, 2009. https://st.icann.org/alac-docs/index.cgi?statement_on_new_gtlds_applications...

According to the timetable at https://st.icann.org/alac-docs/index.cgi?at_large_policy_development_schedul... the deadline for submitting comments on the second draft gTLD guidebook is April 13. However, the proposed ALAC vote to ratify the gTLD working group's statement for that consultation is not to be completed until April 20. Furthermore, this timetable provides 11 days of consultation but only one day to incorporate the comments into revised wording. Is that fair to the volunteers? Who is responsible for creating a timetable that has the "official" ALAC statement on the gTLD guidebook missing the published deadline by a full week? What is the point of an extended consultation if the resulting statement gets ignored on a technicality? Why did the consultation process not even start until this week, knowing in advance the short timelines? I fully agree with the need for an ongoing, thoughtful and open evolution of the WG's activity. But we need to deal with this deadline that is not of our making. How do ALAC and staff intend to address this? I was promised at the last ALAC call that would have a timely solution, not one that misses ICANN's deadline by design. - Evan PS: So far there is only one comment posted on the wiki designed to attract community comment for this working group -- and it's mine. I invite anyone here to contribute, even if it's with a comment or question. https://st.icann.org/alac-docs/index.cgi?statement_on_new_gtlds_applications...