Dear all - the Ex.Com. had a conference call today with the registries regarding the wish list that the constituency drafted when discussing the EPP Transition. Below is a brief overview of their comments. * com/net registries should remain thin after transition; -- The VeriSign Registry indicated that they have heard this from a number of registrars. They don't oppose this recommendation, but would request the registrars communicate it directly to ICANN as soon as possible. This will be covered further in the plan that VeriSign will eventually roll out. I will draft a statement for the constituency's vetting. -- Obviously if a registry operator other than VeriSign gets the .net contract, we will need to ensure that ICANN is aware of this wish from the registrars. * registries should conduct an OT&E environment prior to initiating a transition period -- The registries plan to do so. The gTLD registries (other than com/net) have requested that ICANN allow them to postpone finalization of their transition until 12/31/04, and registrar transition until 3/31/05. The OT&E environment for all of them would be opened and operating by 12/31/05, to remain open as current and future registrars transition into the latest EPP standard. * registries should sync up their business rules as much as possible (e.g., whois fields) -- Registries asked for more detail regarding such rules. They also indicated their strong desire to continue to exhibit differences - particularly for competitive reasons. We said that we are not trying to eliminate reasonable business differences, but to the extent that business rules are the same, they should sync up across the registries. Our task is to itemize business rules that we would recommend syncing. For example, standardize registry maintenance notices, invoices, and other operational reports, based on the best practices of one of the registries. * a 3rd party should validate that the registries have synced the rules prior to initiating a transition period -- The registries were opposed to this as a requirement. * transition processes should be the same or as similar as possible -- While they would make no commitment, the registries indicated their plan to work together to sync up and simplify the transition process. * RRP-EPP transitions should allow for legacy registrations until transitions are completed and checked in order not to turn off registration/renewals -- This will be covered further in the plan that VeriSign will eventually roll out, since this only affects com/net. Obviously if a registry operator other than VeriSign gets the .net contract, we will need to ensure that ICANN is aware of this wish from the registrars. * the transition should be as long as possible, at least through Q1 2005 -- The gTLD registries (other than com/net) have requested that ICANN allow them to postpone finalization of their transition until 12/31/04, and registrar transition until 3/31/05. * com/net transition should allow for an additional year beyond BONI -- The VeriSign Registry indicated that they have heard this from a number of registrars. They don't oppose this recommendation, but will not make any commitment at this time beyond including it in their current planning, which VeriSign will eventually roll out. * the registries should not require auth codes for transfers until all transition periods are done -- This will be covered further in the plan that VeriSign will eventually roll out, since this only affects com/net. Obviously if a registry operator other than VeriSign gets the .net contract, we will need to ensure that ICANN is aware of this wish from the registrars. * an implementation committee that includes registrars should be established -- The registries have agreed to form an implementing registry-registrar working group to collaborate on issues such as syncing up business rules, EPP transitions, etc. The registrars need to identify a small, but representative group of registrars, to such group - by the end of next week. I suggest that we do this informally via email - by starting with volunteers - rather than launching a formal voting process. * there should be a standardization of maintenance notices and other types of notices and reports -- covered above * registrars should be able to electronically query registries about their balances -- Registries felt that this was an issue for each registry individually, rather than one appropriate for the constituency. * registries should provide a list of recommended developers for reference by registrars that need consultants -- Registries will provide contacts - not recommendations - as they come across such contacts. If anyone has further comments/questions, please let us know. Regards, Elana Broitman Register.com 575 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Phone (212) 798-9215
EFax (800) 886-2716 Fax (212) 629-9309 ebroitman@register.com