[bc-gnso] FYI - ICANN Announcement, Aug 30 2011: Safe, Stable and Secure New gTLDs: ICANN Seeks Global Background Screening Services Provider

[Benedetta Rossi <secretariat-bc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear BC Members,
Please find below an announcement by ICANN, which can also be found on the 
icann web site: 
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-30aug11-en.htm


Kindest Regards,

Benedetta Rossi
BC Secretariat

Safe, Stable and Secure New gTLDs:ICANN Seeks Global Background Screening 
Services Provider30 August 2011ICANN is issuing today a Request for Proposal 
(RFP) [PDF, 104 KB] to identify a Global Background Screening Service Provider 
capable of generating a thorough and timely background check for all new 
generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Applicants.After extensive discussion, debates, 
and deliberations over the past several years with the business groups, 
trademark owners, governments, and the Internet community at-large, ICANN’s 
Board of Directors have approved the plan to allow entities to apply for new 
top-level domains through the new gTLD program.  The number of generic 
top-level domains, (there are 22 in existence today and include familiar names 
such as .com, .net, and .org), are expected to dramatically expand over the 
next several years.Based on extensive community feedback regarding a safe and 
stable new gTLD launch, ICANN has committed to conducting an extensive 
background screening of each applicant. The new gTLD program is designed with 
multiple stakeholder protection mechanisms.  Background screening, features of 
the gTLD Registry Agreement, easy access to zone file data, and data and 
financial escrow mechanisms are all intended to provide registrant and user 
protections.  The scope of the background screening is expected to cover, at a 
minimum, the entity applying, key directors, officers, partners, and major 
shareholders of that entity.  The new gTLD program is expected start accepting 
applications in January 2012, and receive a diverse set of applications from 
all over the world.  Ensuring that applicants have the intention to operate the 
new gTLDs in the public interest and in compliance with the program 
requirements is of utmost concern.  Conducting a thorough and timely background 
check on each applicant is an important component of the ICANN’s application 
approval process.Respondents are requested to respond to this RFP by replying 
to: BackgroundScreeningRFP@xxxxxxxxx. The period to submit questions about the 
RFP will close on 13 September 2011. ICANN will provide answers to all 
questions submitted to all respondents by 22 September 2011. The final response 
to the RFP is due on 4 October 2011.