| Maarten Botterman, left, has been selected as the next Chair of the ICANN Board. León Felipe Sánchez Ambia, right, has been selected as Vice Chair. |
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ICANN Board Selects New Chair and Vice Chair They will be seated after the formal election that will take place at the Annual Meeting at ICANN66 in Montréal, Canada. Read more in a blog [r20.rs6.net] from current Board Chair Cherine Chalaby. |
We Need Your Feedback on The Information Transparency Initiative (ITI) ICANN org released a proposed new search experience for Registry Agreement content for your input via our feedback site. We are committed to working with you to deliver a result that meets your needs. To do that, we need your input. The improved searchability includes these features: - Filters to narrow your search results by gTLD or string, agreement type, operator, or agreement status.
- A date range filter.
- Type ahead and search by the Internationalized Domain Name.
- Ability to download search results to a csv file with links to the individual agreement pages.
- Keyword(s) search within registry agreement content with the results available by relevance.
Take the time to compare the current Registry Agreement findability [r20.rs6.net] with our new release [r20.rs6.net] and let us know what you think via the feedback site [r20.rs6.net]. The feedback period will be open until 30 September 2019. Read More About ITI [r20.rs6.net] in Sally Newell Cohen and David Conrad's latest blog. |
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Top Chinese Internet Companies Get Together To Discuss WHOIS Lawyers from China's top Internet companies gathered last month for an update on WHOIS and the Expedited Policy Development Process (EPDP) work. During the workshop, legal representatives from companies such as Alibaba, Baidu, Tencent, Byte Dancing, and others, discussed the impact of WHOIS information on their work. They also learned about the various ways to participate in the EPDP discussion and other ICANN-related work. The event was organized by community veterans Edmon Chung and Alban Kwan. Janis Karklins, Chair of EPDP Phase 2, also attended in person to share his insights. |
APIGA: Nurturing Youths to Lead in Internet Governance ICANN and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) co-organized the fourth Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) on 12-16 August 2019. Fifty-three youth leaders from nineteen Asia Pacific economies spanning Bhutan to Papua New Guinea spent one week in Seoul learning intensively about Internet governance (IG). Participants had the rare chance to gain first-hand knowledge from seasoned members of the multistakeholder community. The lively sessions examined current topics like artificial intelligence governance and IG landscapes in different countries. APIGA culminated in a mock ICANN conference where participants acted as the various Supporting Organizations or Advisory Committees to discuss domain abuse and contest new generic top-level domains. APIGA is now a premier platform for IG youth engagement. One in four APIGA alumni actively continue in the global IG space, such as at ICANN, Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC), and Internet Governance Forums (IGFs). Missed APIGA 2019? Join us next year: www.apiga.asia [r20.rs6.net] |
| Zhang Jian-Chuan, Head of China, Global Stakeholder Engagement, introduced ICANN and the multistakeholder governance model at the Global Cyberspace Governance Forum. |
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China Moves Forward to Improve Internet Experience for Users China has installed its third ICANN Managed Root Server (IMRS) instance. A root server is a name server for the Domain Name System (DNS) root zone. Root servers respond to DNS lookup requests made by DNS resolvers generally operated by Internet service providers. The latest instance installed in Shanghai, was a joint activity between ICANN, China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), and the local community. Shanghai Telecom supplied the bandwidth and equipment. Spreading more root instances geographically leads to a more resilient, dispersed system that reduces the risk of Internet users being taken offline by a problem or attack. It also ensures faster turnaround time of a DNS query and response, resulting in better experiences for Internet users. Contrary to common misconception, root servers do not control the Internet. The operation of an instance also does not provide any mechanism to alter content of the DNS. Read the announcement here [icann.org]. |
Next APAC Space Web Conference is in October The next Asia Pacific (APAC) Web Conference will be held in October instead of September. More details will be shared nearer to the date. |
Register for the ICANN66 Annual General MeetingRegistration is now open for ICANN66 in Montréal, Canada. Click here [r20.rs6.net] to register. The ICANN66 Annual General Meeting will be held from 2-7 November 2019 at the Montréal Convention Centre (Palais des Congrès de Montréal). Crucial travel and registration resources, including information on visas, hotels, and transportation, can be found here [r20.rs6.net]. On-site registration will open one day before the official start of the meeting. However, pre-registration is strongly encouraged. All attendees must present valid, government-issued identification to receive a conference badge at check-in. Registration for ICANN Public Meetings is free and open to everyone. Participants can attend in person or join remotely. Learn more about ICANN Public Meetings here [r20.rs6.net]. |
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Register for ICANN66 Prep Week Mark your calendars! Ahead of ICANN66, there will be a series of webinars during the week of 14-18 October to help the ICANN community prepare for the Annual General Meeting. Register here [r20.rs6.net]. |
Also, a geographic names survey is being developed for the At-Large community to identify priorities and potential for consensus on the topic. Other ongoing activities include planning for the third At-Large Summit (ATLAS III) which will be held during ICANN66, continuing the election process for ICANN Board Seat 15, and promoting Universal Acceptance within At-Large, in coordination with the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG). |
GAC Welcomes Two New Observers The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) recently welcomed two new observers: the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); and the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Working Group. |
GAC Focal Group on New gTLDs Subsequent Procedure Following ICANN64, the GAC launched a focal group to coordinate the GAC's timely input into the final deliberations of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group. This includes recommendations on the Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review. The GAC's main topics of interest cover areas such as the new gTLDs application process, requirements, evaluation, objections, and string contention. The focal group met for the first time during ICANN65 and started work on building the capacity of GAC members to navigate the interrelated policy development and implementation discussions on future rounds of new gTLDs. The focal group will meet regularly until ICANN66, when it will brief the GAC on its discussions. |
Policy Development for IDNs: ccNSO Next Steps Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Council Chair Katrina Sataki sent a letter [r20.rs6.net] to ICANN Board Chair Cherine Chalaby about policies related to the Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) country code top-level domain (ccTLD) Fast Track Process. In the letter, Sataki requested the ICANN Board agree to mark a formal end to the second ccNSO Policy Development Process (ccNSO PDP2) on the selection of IDN ccTLD strings and inclusion of IDN ccTLDs in the ccNSO. The ccNSO Council also repeated its request for the ICANN Board to take no further steps to change the current IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process. In the absence of a formal policy, the current process enables countries and territories to request strings for IDN ccTLDs representing their respective country or territory names in scripts other than Latin. It is the ccNSO Council's firm belief that until a ccNSO policy replaces the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process, the current process should remain in place. Once the ICANN Board responds to the recommendations of ccNSO PDP2, the ccNSO Council will launch the fourth ccNSO PDP. The fourth ccNSO PDP will address issues identified by the ccNSO IDN Preliminary Review Team (PRT). This includes outlining the differences between the similarity review and IDN Variant TLD Implementation and streamlining the selection process of IDN ccTLD strings. Read more about the ccNSO IDN PRT here [r20.rs6.net]. The ccNSO Council is also preparing a request for changes to Article 10 of the ICANN Bylaws after consultation with the ccTLD community. The changes cover two aspects: an updated definition of ccNSO membership and enabling IDN ccTLDs to become members of the ccNSO. |
Since its meetings at ICANN65, the Expedited Policy Development Process (EPDP) on the Temporary Specification for gTLD Registration Data Phase 2 Team has been reviewing use cases for requestors of nonpublic gTLD registration data. The EPDP Team looked at commonalities among these use cases, to help inform the first iteration of draft policy principles. From 9-11 September, the EPDP Team met in Los Angeles at the ICANN headquarters to deliberate on this first iteration. Learn more [r20.rs6.net]. |
- Policy Development Process 3.0 (PDP 3.0) is a GNSO Council initiative aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the GNSO PDP. Since April 2019, a small team of GNSO councilors has been meeting regularly to develop implementation details for 14 PDP 3.0 improvements [r20.rs6.net] that were adopted previously by the GNSO Council. During the 22 August GNSO Council meeting, the team presented its proposed final documents for four completed PDP 3.0 improvements as its first deliverable. Those documents are related to the expectations, requirements, and participation methods for PDP working group members and leaders. The team aims to finalize documents for the remaining improvements by ICANN66. Learn more [r20.rs6.net].
- Besides managing GNSO PDPs, the GNSO Council has been engaged in a variety of projects and activities, including scoping policy work related to Internationalized Domain Name variant TLD management, reviewing Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review Team recommendations, and responding to the ICANN org request for clarification on data accuracy. Learn more [r20.rs6.net].
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Start Using the Updated Lookup ToolICANN recently launched an updated version of its lookup tool. [r20.rs6.net] It makes use of the Registration Data Access Protocol - known as RDAP - to query, parse, and display domain name registration data in a human-friendly format. The ability to look up publicly available contact and other information related to a domain name has been provided as a free public service by ICANN since 2013.
RDAP was developed by the technical community in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) as an eventual replacement for the WHOIS protocol. ICANN accredited registrars and registry operators are now required to provide registration data directory services through RDAP in addition to the WHOIS services.
More information on the new tool is available here [r20.rs6.net]. |
Check Out the New gTLD Case Studies As part of ICANN's global efforts to raise awareness and interest in new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), all registries are invited to develop case studies. These case studies tell the gTLD's story, including background and business objectives, and are intended for use as educational resources. |
Myanmar Community Tackles LGR Proposal and OutreachThe Myanmar Generation Panel organized a local public consultation on the Myanmar script Label Generation Rules (LGR) proposal [r20.rs6.net] last month. The event in Yangon, Myanmar, focused on receiving important feedback from the larger community that includes the multiple languages covered by the proposal: Burmese, Karen Sgaw, Mon, Pa'O, Rakhine, and Shan. Attendees included the Myanmar Computer Federation (MCF), Myanmar Computer Industry Association (MCIA), Myanmar Unicode Area, Post and Telecommunications Department (PTD), and UMG Idealab. The Myanmar Generation Panel plans to submit the LGR proposal for Public Comment by October 2019. More information on the proposal can be found here [r20.rs6.net]. As part of the event in Yangon, a day of outreach was held to help spread awareness of ICANN's mission and increase community engagement. Students, along with technical and legal community members, discussed a wide range of topics including Universal Acceptance (UA) of top-level domains (TLDs), the New gTLD Program, Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), and more. |
Next Generation of Developers Work Towards a Multilingual Internet In June, a group of 24 developers with a unique role to play in ensuring the successful expansion of the Internet to non-English speakers, took part in a coding event in Raipur, India. Participants were asked to create a website, web application, or web service that would work with all domain names and email IDs written in languages based on Devanagari scripts (which include languages and dialects spoken by 18 million people in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh). The goal was to address challenges related to Universal Acceptance (UA). The event was hosted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the government of India. Read about UASG ambassador Harish Chowdhary's experience at the event in his blog here [r20.rs6.net]. |
Opportunities to Participate: ICANN Reviews ICANN has several opportunities for community input and participation. Specific Reviews are led by teams of community volunteers to assess the performance of the ICANN organization and make recommendations for improvement. - Observe the third Accountability and Transparency Review Team (ATRT3) face-to-face Singapore meeting on 20-22 October. Click here [r20.rs6.net] to learn more.
Organizational Reviews are led by independent examiners who assess the extent to which ICANN's Supporting Organizations (SOs), Advisory Committees (ACs), and the Nominating Committee (NomCom) fulfill their purpose, are accountable to their stakeholders, and whether any changes in structure or operations are needed. - The Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Final Report is now available. Click here [r20.rs6.net] to read it. Next, the ccNSO will draft its Feasibility Assessment in response to the recommendations issued in the Final Report.
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Contribute to the Evolution of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model Facilitator Brian Cute is soliciting public comments [r20.rs6.net] on the next steps related to the Evolution of ICANN's Multistakeholder Model [r20.rs6.net] process. The community will receive an update in a plenary session on Thursday, 7 November at ICANN66. The session will include a discussion about the input received and details on the next steps developing a work plan to address the issues the community has identified as hampering the effective and efficient functioning of ICANN's multistakeholder model of governance. |
Henry TsaiMember of the Intellectual Property Constituency Henry Tsai is a new member of the Intellectual Property Constituency (IPC) group. He became interested in ICANN after studying trademark law and learning about the Domain Name System. He wrote a paper titled "The Trademark/Domain Name Protection War: A Comparative Study of the U.S., UDRP and Taiwanese Law," which sparked his interest to join a supporting organization. Tsai was previously a judge in the Taiwan Intellectual Property Court but is now a Division-Chief Judge at the Taiwan Shilin District. He is particularly interested in intellectual property (IP) law and litigation, especially in how domain names are addressed in the traditional legal system. Tsai attended his first ICANN Public Meeting, ICANN64 in Kobe, Japan this year. He is keen to spread awareness of ICANN to Taiwanese stakeholders and encourage them to participate in ICANN. |
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ICANN will be participating in these upcoming events: | | | 20-21 September | Bangladesh School of Internet Governance (bdSIG) | Dhaka, Bangladesh | 1-3 October | 12th Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Policy and Regulation Forum for Pacific (PRFP-12) | Nuku'alofa, Tonga | 8-10 October | APT Symposium on Cybersecurity | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
Learn more about ICANN at regional events near you [r20.rs6.net].
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