Hello All, Listed below is an article that I wrote in connection with ICANN's proposed new gTLD Expression of Interest initiative. While I think there is some good that could come of this proposal, as I have tried to articulate in this article there is potentially a lot of bad, especially when you look at the public forum which has basically been flooded by prospective TLD applicants. There is less than 10 days before ICANN staff summarizes the public forum input for consideration by the ICANN Board at its early December meeting. As Mike Rodenbaugh previously noted there is probably not enough time for the constituency to reach an opinion, and Ron Andruff has already taken a position in line with the prospective TLD applicants which is kind of the polar opposite to the position advocated in my paper. This is kind of a big issue which appears to be getting lost in the DAG 3.0 comment period and the upcoming holiday season. I really do believe individual BC members should weigh in on this important issue one way or another. Best regards, Michael FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 18, 2009 New gTLD Expressions of Interest: Proceed with Caution Palage Offers Suggestions to Ensure Useful Insight is Gathered in Process WASHINGTON D.C. - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) should look to precedents if it chooses to move forward with soliciting Expressions of Interests for new Generic Top Level Domains, states Adjunct Fellow Michael Palage in " <http://ga1.org/ct/-7Xbtas1Mm48/> New gTLD Expressions of Interest: Proceed with Caution," released today by The Progress & Freedom Foundation. Previous EOIs were successful in helping ICANN gather pertinent data to judge likely gTLD demand and make fact-based decisions. In the <http://ga1.org/ct/-7Xbtas1Mm48/> paper, Palage, a former ICANN board member, states that the Expression of Interest, if well executed, could help to address a number of the remaining issues with implementation of new gTLDs. If executed improperly, however, the initiative will likely erode confidence in the new gTLD process and negatively impact ICANN's evaluation in the upcoming reviews under ICANN's new Affirmation of Commitments. Palage warns against proposals to make participation in the EOI a condition for participating in the first new gTLD round. He also warns against instituting substantial fees to file, stating that both proposals deviate from established precedent. Palage explains that such actions would transform a fact-based gathering EOI into a "front-running scheme for insiders to reserve their space at the front of the new gTLD line." The proposal would fail to create a level playing field for potential applicants. Moreover, this proposed front-running approach would likely only increase ICANN's litigation risks by appearing to grant a license or privilege in a process which may ultimately diverge from present expectations. "The path forward for ICANN is a road that it has previously traveled - and one which has served it well," concludes Palage. "There is little benefit to deviating from these established precedents to benefit the narrow interests of a small number of TLD applicants whose business plans have been jeopardized because of ICANN's decision to listen to the global community by slowing down and getting things right." " <http://ga1.org/ct/-7Xbtas1Mm48/> New gTLD Expressions of Interest: Proceed with Caution" is available on the <http://www.pff.org/> PFF website. The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) research & educational organization.