[bc-gnso] ALERTS from the Secretariat: Safe and Secure New gTLDs: ICANN Seeks Back-up Registry Operators

[Benedetta Rossi <secretariat-bc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-14sep11-en.htm


Safe and Secure New gTLDs: ICANN Seeks Back-up Registry Operators(Emergency 
Back-End Registry Operators or "EBEROs")14 September 2011ICANN is issuing today 
a Request for Information (RFI) [PDF, 660 KB] to identify potential Emergency 
Back-End Registry Operators (EBERO).One of ICANN's core missions is to preserve 
the operational security and stability of the Internet while also supporting 
open competition. With the upcoming launch of the New generic Top-Level Domain 
(New gTLD) program, the Internet will see a number of new gTLD registry 
operators. Although all applicants must meet technical, operational and 
financial requirements (see the gTLD Applicant Guidebook – 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/dag-en.htm) the community developed 
new gTLD program includes provision for a backup process. The EBERO is designed 
to be activated should a registry operator require assistance to sustain 
critical registry functions for a period of time or in the case of transition 
for one registry operator to another.Candidates are expected to meet the 
requirements outlined in the RFI, which requires, for example, at least three 
years of experience in operating Domain Name services (DNS) and one year of 
experience operating Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS) and Extensible 
Provisioning Protocol (EPP) services. Besides the technical requirements, ICANN 
seeks candidates from geographically diverse regions in order to provide local 
service to registries in all regions and provide alternate sites in case of 
local disasters.ICANN is looking forward to receiving comprehensive information 
from the potential candidates. Negotiations with certain respondents to the RFI 
that provide comprehensive information will be initiated for the purpose of 
creating process details and entering into an agreement to provide backend 
services. The deadline for responses is November 30, 2011 at 23:59 UTC. Please 
direct your information to ebero@xxxxxxxxx. Responses after the deadline will 
not be considered.RFI activities schedule at a glance:Request for proposals 
issued by ICANN14 September 2011Respondents' Q&A – TeleconferenceOn or about 16 
November 2011Written proposals due30 November 2011 – 23:59 UTC1. What is a 
registry?A "Registry" is the authoritative, master database of all domain names 
registered in each Top-Level Domain. The registry operator keeps the master 
database and also generates the "zone file" which allows computers to route 
Internet traffic to and from top-level domains anywhere in the world.2. What is 
an Emergency Operator?Emergency Operator or Back-End Registry Operator is an 
organization that has partnered with ICANN to provide registry services in case 
another registry is unable to operate. The emergency operators will be selected 
by ICANN based on the criteria outlined in the RFI. 3. What happens when a gTLD 
registry operation fail either financially or due a technical emergency?If an 
emergency occurs, and a Registry is unable to provide critical services, it 
will be the function of the Emergency Operator to ensure the continuity of the 
services. This provider emergency transition process is managed by ICANN and 
requires multiple providers to be available to take on the function in case one 
provider is not able to timely take the operation or if there is a conflict of 
interest.4. What are the critical registry functions?Functions that are 
critical to the operation of a gTLD registry (i.e., those provided by the 
EBERO) are:Domain Names System (DNS) resolution;Domain Name System Security 
Extensions (DNSSEC) properly signed zone (if DNSSEC is offered  by the 
registry);Shared Registration System (SRS), usually by means of the Extensible 
Provisioning Protocol (EPP);Registration Data Directory Services (RDDS), e.g., 
WHOIS provided over both port 43 and through a web based service;Registry Data 
Escrow.5. What kind of information is ICANN requesting and who should 
respond?Respondents should be parties interested in committing themselves as 
potential Emergency Back-End Registry Operators.  The RFI covers numerous 
areas, but respondents should be prepared to discuss the following:Capabilities 
and experience in the critical registry functions;Registry Transition concepts, 
experience, SLAs, and use cases;Pricing models for providing critical registry 
functions;Profile of the respondents organization, leadership and 
resources.BackgroundIn April 2009, ICANN published the ICANN gTLD Registry 
Continuity Plan –http://www.icann.org/en/registries/continuity/. This document 
depicts a gTLD Registry Continuity Framework developed in collaboration with 
experienced gTLD, ccTLD registries and members of the technical community.  The 
overall goals of ICANN's gTLD Registry Continuity Framework are:the protection 
of existing registrants; andto ensure confidence in the DNS.The Registry 
Continuity framework recognized the need for a prescribed ability to continue 
services in the event of a Registry Operator failure.  It introduced the 
concept of a Back-End Operator and the intrinsic complications in a single 
back-up operator supporting all existing capabilities of different registry 
models.  In view of those complications, the concept of identifying base level 
"critical functions", required to maintain the minimum operating services of a 
Top Level Domain, was established and defined.In May 2010 ICANN published a New 
Top-Level Domain Explanatory Memorandum "gTLD Registry Transition Processes 
Model" (RyTP) - 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/registry-transition-processes-clean-30may11-en.pdf
 [PDF, 747 KB]. This document further elaborates on the concept of critical 
functions required for maintaining Top-Level Domain services and discusses the 
types of transitions between one Registry Operator and another.  The concept of 
the Emergency Back-End Registry Operator was also introduced to support the TLD 
critical functions of failing Registry Operators, when there is no immediate 
assigned successor Registry Operator.Links to Relevant Information:New gTLD 
Program: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htmgTLD Registry 
Continuity Document Archive: 
http://www.icann.org/en/registries/continuity/archive-en.htm
Kindest Regards,

Benedetta Rossi
BC Secretariat