Hello All, Below is an extract from the issues report just released by Denise of the proposed terms of reference for decision in the Council meeting on 20 July 2006. With respect to the policy development process described in http://www.icann.org/general/bylaws.htm#AnnexA we have completed step 2: Creation of Issues Report. We are now up to step 3 and step 4 of the PDP process. 3. Initiation of PDP c. Vote of the Council. A vote of more than 33% of the Council members present in favor of initiating the PDP will suffice to initiate the PDP; unless the Staff Recommendation stated that the issue is not properly within the scope of the ICANN policy process or the GNSO, in which case a Supermajority Vote of the Council members present in favor of initiating the PDP will be required to initiate the PDP. And 4. Commencement of the PDP At the meeting of the Council initiating the PDP, the Council shall decide, by a majority vote of members present at the meeting, whether to appoint a task force to address the issue. If the Council votes: a. In favor of convening a task force, it shall do so in accordance with the provisions of Item 7 below. b. Against convening a task force, then it will collect information on the policy issue in accordance with the provisions of Item 8 below. Regards, Bruce Tonkin F. Proposed Terms of Reference The following terms of reference for further work are focused on the GNSO activities, which should address gTLD aspects, as recommended by the GNSO working group assessing the Preliminary Issues Report. 1. Should IDN Top-Level Domains be introduced? a. Given the information provided here and any other relevant information available, in particular the results of technical tests regarding IDN top-level domains, assess whether there is sufficient support within the Internet community to enable the introduction of IDN-gTLDs. b. With a positive presumption regarding a) above, awaiting the final outcome, address the following additional terms of reference. 2. Selection Criteria for IDN Top-Level Domains a. Taking into account the background, considerations and findings regarding selection criteria in the New gTLD PDP, develop modified or additional criteria, as appropriate, for IDN-gTLDs which specifically address ICANN's goals of expanding the use and usability of the Internet. In particular, examine ways in which the allocation of new IDN-gTLDs domains can meet demands for broader use of the Internet in developing countries. 3. Allocation Methods for IDN Top-Level Domains a. Taking into account the background, considerations and findings regarding allocation methods in the New gTLD PDP, develop modified or new allocation methods, as appropriate, for selecting new IDN-gTLDs. 4. Policy to Guide Contractual Conditions for IDN Top-Level Domains a. Taking into account the background, considerations and findings regarding contractual conditions in the New gTLD PDP, develop policies to guide the specific contractual criteria needed for new IDN-gTLDs, to be made publicly available prior to any application rounds. 5. Additional policy considerations regarding IDN Top-Level Domains a. For two IDN-gTLD strings for the same purpose with the same operator, should the same second level strings in these TLDs resolve to the same Internet location? b. In cooperation with the ccNSO and the GAC, taking into account their considerations and findings regarding IDN top-level domains, determine policies to ensure consistency in approaches and interdependencies, as appropriate from a gTLD perspective. c. For IDN-gTLDs, should the script used in a string at the second level match the script used in the string at the top level?