[alac] GNSO Liaison Report

[Bret Fausett <bfausett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In preparation for this week's conference call, here is an overview of the
activities now underway in the GNSO.

1.  New gTLDs. A public comment period is now underway on an initial report
from the GNSO's New gTLD Task Force. The Task Force is working on a timeline
that will present final recommendations to the Board by the end of the year.

http://icann.org/announcements/announcement1-28jul06.htm

http://gnso.icann.org/drafts/newgtlds-issues-report-01-28jul06.htm

This report and the feedback on it will be the primary focus of discussions
at a GNSO Council meeting in Amsterdam the last week of this month. I will
be attending on behalf of the ALAC. The public comment period ends on
Friday, 18 August 2006. We will want to have our feedback prepared by the
time of the Amsterdam meeting.

2.  Contractual Conditions for Existing gTLDs. The GNSO also has published a
preliminary report on what contractual conditions should be imposed on gTLD
registries. The initial report is here:

http://gnso.icann.org/issues/gtld-policies/pcc-pdp-03aug06.pdf

The task force is currently looking at retaining expert consultants to
assist with issues such as the economics of competition at the registry
level, including pricing and "presumptive renewal." Some members of the task
force have expressed strong concerns that ICANN is moving forward with
contract renewals and negotiations on new terms for .ORG, .BIZ and .INFO
will the task force review is underway.

Again, this will be an issue for discussion in Amsterdam. We will want to
have our comments prepared by the Amsterdam meeting.

3.  IDNs at the TLD Level. ICANN Staff has prepared an issues report on IDNs
at the top level of the DNS. You can review the report here:

http://gnso.icann.org/issues/idn-tlds/issues-report-17jul06.htm

The question for review now is whether ICANN and the GNSO are asking the
right questions. The ALAC should review this and determine whether the list
of issues is complete and the suggestions for procedural paths forward
cogent. This is not the time to comment on the substance of the questions
posed. 

4.  Whois and National Privacy Laws. As you may have noted from my recent
post to the list, the ICANN Staff is planning the implementation of a GNSO
and Board resolution to handle "potential conflicts between Whois
requirements and national privacy laws."

http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg02779.html

The ALAC, along with the SOs, will have the opportunity to review and
comment upon the draft recommendations.

5.  GNSO Review. As you know, ICANN retained the London School of Economics
("LSE") to review the structure, procedures and effectiveness of the GNSO.
Many of you may have been interviewed about this in Wellington. The Draft
LSE Review will be published on or about 21 August 2006.

http://gnso.icann.org/mailing-lists/archives/council/msg02780.html

We will have the opportunity to review and comment upon the LSE Draft.

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    -- Bret

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