On 15 February 2011 15:09, Eric Brunner-Williams <ebw@abenaki.wabanaki.net>wrote:
the absence of any vehicle for Indians, and others, to replicate what the Catalans have managed, and for less than $50,000, troubles me a lot more than the GAC or the USG potentially "vetoing" an application for an Indian or other registry.
Obstacles take many forms. That particular impediment comes from the very top of ICANN. In its response to previous work done by the JAS committee (that was endorsed by ALAC but not even "received" by GNSO), the Board said that the financial barrier to entry for new gTLD applications is untouchable in this round. This is based on a core GNSO requirement that all gTLD activities be done on a cost-recovery basis, combined with ICANN staff's risk assessment which has demanded that the fee of $185 be maintained and cannot be waived or lowered based on the status of the applicant. Restricted this way, the JAS is now primarily in a role of determining external fundraising activities, a field in which I have next to zero expertise (and why my participation in the group has plummeted despite my ongoing attendance). Of course, the JAS could stand on principle and insist -- despite the Board's existing refusal and against GNSO policy -- that the price be lowered for economically challenged applicants. The likelihood of such a request being heeded is extremely low. But it's no worse than the current state in which the Board/GNSO direction has totally shifted the JAS focus away from ICANN's own responsibility to support such efforts, and turned to external funders willing to pay ICANN's full fare. - Evan