Hi Everyone One of the tasks of Chair is to provide a monthly report to ALAC - and to itself. I've drafted up text, but realise that not everything that should be here is. For example, I know Sala did a survey, which should be mentioned - plus anything I don't know about. In the report, I have listed the various areas of interest that people have put their hands up for - there are lots of blank spaces, so let me know. That way, when ALAC/ICANN is looking for a response, I will know who to call upon. So let me know. Any and all comments welcome - this is your newsletter! Holly (The November one will include reports on Baku, plus a further report on IDNs and outcomes from both the monthly teleconference and from the Beijing Organising Committee - again, additional suggestions welcome) APRALO MONTHLY REPORTS OCTOBER New ALSs Computer Society of India New Officers (confirmed at the October meeting) Chair: Holly Raiche (Internet Society of Australia) to fill vacancy left by resignation of Charles Mok (term runs to 30 June 2013) Vice chair: Y J Park (Open Standards and Internet Association (OSIA)) to fill vacancy left by Holly Raiche. Term ends 30 June 2013 Meeting: 18 October 2012 Held in Toronto Main items of discussion: · Discussion of the main issues being discussed at the ICANN meeting – see below and meeting reports <https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Toronto+Meeting+Reports> · Review of planned events for the IGF meeting in Baku (what is planned/who is attending) Reports on event in the next report · Formation of an Organising Committee for the Beijing ICANN meeting to include Holly, Cheryl, Hong, Edmon, Rinalia, YJ and, from staff, Silvia · The possibility of an APIGF in 2013 IDN Variant TLD Program. This is the October update: The ICANN IDN Variant TLD Program is tasked with exploring the issues associated with the potential inclusion of IDN variant TLDs in the DNS root zone. In Toronto, work in progress on 2 projects were presented by the ICANN IDN Variant TLD Program Team: (1) Label Generation Ruleset Process for the Root - The development of a procedure to develop and maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone. (2) User Experience with active Variants - The study of possible user experience implications of activating two or more IDN variant TLDs. At-Large Responses to the Projects: (1) The At-Large IDN Working Group meeting in Toronto focused on issues surrounding a preliminary report on the Label Generation Ruleset Process for the Root. Based on the discussion, a written response has been drafted (see https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=36212771), which will be voted upon by the ALAC and targeted for submission on 27 November 2012. 3 areas of concern were highlighted in the response: (a) Lack of policy expertise specified for the proposed panels that will help balance the need for strict security and stability conservativeness versus the support needed for acceptable IDN implementation from the users' point of view; (b) Lack of expressed accountability and review of process; and (c) Insufficient explanation of how the specific process fits into the wider processes regarding new gTLD and IDN ccTLD. (2) A draft response to the "Interim Report Examining the User Experience Implications of Active Variant TLDs" is currently being developed for discussion with the At-Large IDN Working Group prior to ALAC consultation and vote. When ready the draft will be posted here: https://community.icann.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=37193862. Reports from ALSs Pacific Islands: The Pacific continues to increase its representation at ICANN. They represented APRALO in the sessions of ALAC (Cook Islands), the GAC (Tonga) and Fellowships (Fiji and Papua New Guinea). The fifth member of our team is the Pacific ICANN rep, originally from Fiji, and based in Brisbane. Maureen Hilyard was a penholder for the MADT which reported back to ALAC on the status of their revised meeting procedures. She also participated in ccNSO meetings as a potential liaison rep for ALAC; and has joined the FOIWG and the Organising Committee for the Beijing meeting. The Pacific team attended the ISOC meetings representing the Pacific Islands Chapter - PICISOC. geographic interests listed in ISO 3166-1 was submitted to the ccNSO. The ALAC statement highlighted the following: a) applicability of the Root Zone Label Generation Rules to IDN ccTLDs; b) confusing similarity assessment based on the perspective of the local IDN user; c) dispute resolution facilitation via provision of informational materials and case studies on best practices for the local actors to consider in their dispute resolution process or encouragement on the use of any neutral dispute resolution facility for IDN ccTLD string contention; and d) consideration of the needs of cross-border language communities in determining language jurisdiction. Areas of Interest: (Put your name against the issue(s) you are interested in) · Registrants Rights and Responsibilities (Holly, Cintra) · Future Structure, Accountability and Transparency of ICANN · Capacity Building Working Group (Sala) · WG on Future Challenges · IDN Policy (Edmon, Rinalia) · New gTLDs · Technical Issues · WHOIS Policy (Holly) · ALAC Subcommittee on Finance and Budget (CLO?, Holly) · ALAC Subcommittee on Outreach · New gTLDs Review Group · Rules of Procedure Working Group (Maureen, Holly) · IRT Process · ICANN Academy Ad-Hoc Working Group