Dear Councillors, Following the discussions during the February 2023 Council meeting, and in light of the upcoming ICANN76 ccNSO & UA Roadmap session, please find enclosed the first written report by Qing Cai (.cn), ccNSO appointed liaison to the UASG. Qing Cai committed to provide monthly updates moving forward. Find more information below, about: * the relevant element as part of the proposed roadmap * the ICANN76 ccNSO & UA session NEW: ICANN’s IDN & UA Program Team will share an overview of the ICANN-wide activities in the area of UA and share results of a recent ccTLD UA survey ICANN76 ccNSO & UA session WHEN. The ICANN76 ccNSO & UA session will be held Wednesday, 15 March 2023 | 14:00-15:00 UTC (09:00-10:00 local), Room: Auditorio (ccNSO). Session link on ICANN76 public schedule: https://sched.co/1J2Mf ABOUT THE SESSION. Universal Acceptance is cornerstone to a digitally inclusive and multilingual Internet, ensuring all domain names and email addresses – in any language, script, or using any new or long TLD – are accepted equally by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. The ccNSO previously explored its potential role in Universal Acceptance. To that end, it organized a session during ICANN75 where both ccTLDs and other stakeholders suggested activities the ccNSO could undertake to complement existing work by the Internet community. In December 2022 and January 2023, ccTLD representatives participated in two workshops to further explore their expectations regarding potential ccNSO action and how to organize next efforts. After the conclusion of the workshops, the ccNSO Council developed a plan which will be presented during this session at ICANN76. Moreover, during this session ICANN’s IDN & UA Program Team will share an overview of the activities in the area of UA, by the ICANN Board, staff and other SOs or ACs. Moreover, the team will share the results of a recent survey on ccTLD UA readiness. ICANN org recently reached out to the country code TLD managers to understand the progress and the challenges faced in becoming UA-ready, and how ICANN org can help support ccTLD managers by developing training and materials. Background: activation ccNSO appointee to UASG One of the core elements of the proposed roadmap for the ccNSO & UA was to activate the ccNSO appointee to the UASG. Following a call for volunteers, the ccNSO appointed a liaison to the UASG. The proposal is for the appointee to act as a true link between the ccNSO and the Universal Acceptance Steering Group, to share the ccNSO's plans for UA and to discuss how UASG can help provide materials and other support. UASG leadership and the ccNSO Council consider that a more regular communication through the liaison will help with the coordination and progress of UA. The UASG was founded in February 2015 and tasked with undertaking activities that will effectively promote the Universal Acceptance of all valid domain names and email addresses. The group is made up of representatives from more than 120 companies (including Afilias, Apple, CNNIC, Eco, i2 Coalition, ICANN, Google, Microsoft, NIXI, THNIC and Yandex), governments and community groups. Read more about UASG here: https://uasg.tech/ Best regards, Joke Braeken joke.braeken@icann.org<mailto:joke.braeken@icann.org> = = = ICANN76 LINKS TO BOOKMARK NOW • ccNSO Schedule https://community.icann.org/x/8IMFDQ • ccNSO Session Highlights https://community.icann.org/x/kYYFDQ • Tech Day https://community.icann.org/x/WIQ-DQ