[bc-gnso] Here is GAC communique in text

[Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

1. New gTLDs . GAC Objections to Specific Applications
i. The GAC Advises the ICANN Board that:
i.   The GAC has reached consensus on GAC Objection Advice according to Module 
3.1 part I of the Applicant Guidebook on the following applications:
1.                    The application for .africa (Application number 
1-­-1165-­-42560)
2.                    The application for .gcc (application number: 
1-­-1936-­-2101)
ii.  With regard to Module 3.1 part II of the Applicant Guidebook4:
1. The GAC recognizes that Religious terms are sensitive issues. Some GAC 
members have raised sensitivities on the applications that relate to Islamic 
terms, specifically .islam and .halal. The GAC members concerned have noted 
that the applications for .islam and .halal lack community involvement and 
support. It is the view of these GAC membersthat these applications should not 
proceed.
b. Safeguard Advice for New gTLDs To reinforce existing processes for raising 
and addressing concerns the GAC isproviding safeguard advice to apply to broad 
categories of strings (see Annex I).
c. Strings for Further GAC Consideration
In addition to this safeguard advice, that GAC has identified certain gTLD 
strings where further GAC consideration may be warranted, including at the GAC 
meetings to be held in Durban.
i. Consequently, the GAC advises the ICANNBoard to: not proceed beyond Initial 
Evaluation with the following strings : .shenzhen (IDN in Chinese), 
.persiangulf, .guangzhou (IDN in Chinese), .amazon (and IDNs in Japanese and 
Chinese), .patagonia, .date, .spa, . yun,.thai, .zulu, .wine, .vin

2 To track the history and progress of GAC Advice to the Board, please visit 
the GAC Advice Online Register available at: 
https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/GAC+Recent+Meetings 3 Module 3.1: “The 
GAC advises ICANN that it is the consensus of the GAC that a particular 
application should not proceed. This will create a strong presumption for the 
ICANN Board that the application should not be approved.
4 Module 3.1: “The GAC advises ICANN that there are concerns about a particular 
application “dot-­-example.” The ICANN Board is expected to enter into dialogue 
with the GAC to understand the scope of concerns. The ICANN Board is also 
expected to provide a rationale for its decision.

3
d. The GAC requests:
i. a written briefing about the ability of anapplicant to change the string 
applied for in order to address concerns raised by a GAC Member and to identify 
a mutually acceptable solution.
e. Community Support for Applications The GACadvises the Board:
i. that in those cases where a community, which is clearly impacted by a set of 
new gTLD applications in contention, has expressed a collective and clear 
opinion on those applications, such opinion should be duly taken into account, 
together with all other relevant information.
f. Singular and plural versions of the same string as a TLD
The GAC believes that singular and plural versions of the string as a TLD could 
lead to potential consumer confusion.
Therefore the GAC advises the ICANN Board to: i. Reconsider its decision to 
allow singular and plural versions of the same strings.
g.  Protections for Intergovernmental Organisations
The GAC stresses that the IGOs perform an important global public mission with 
public funds, they are the creations of government under international law, and 
their names and acronyms warrant special protection in an expanded DNS. Such 
protection, which the GAC has previously advised, should be a priority.
This recognizes that IGOs are in an objectively different category to other 
rights holders, warranting special protection by ICANN in the DNS, while also 
preserving sufficient flexibility for workable implementation.
The GAC is mindful of outstanding implementation issues and commits to actively 
working with IGOs, the Board, and ICANN Staff to find a workable and timely way 
forward.
Pending the resolution of these implementation issues, the GAC reiterates its 
advice to the ICANN Board that:
i. appropriate preventative initial protection for the IGO names and acronyms 
on the provided list be in place before any new gTLDs would launch.
2. Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA)
Consistent with previous communications to the ICANN Board a. the GAC advises 
the ICANN Board that:
i. the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreementshould be finalized before any new 
gTLD contracts are approved.
The GAC also strongly supports the amendment to the new gTLD registry agreement 
that would require new gTLD registry operators to use only those registrars 
that have signed the 2013 RAA.
The GAC appreciates the improvements to the RAA that incorporate the 2009 
GAC-­-Law Enforcement Recommendations.
The GAC is also pleased with the progress on providing verification and 
improving accuracy of registrant data and supports continuing efforts to 
identify preventative mechanisms that help deter criminal or other illegal 
activity. Furthermore the GAC urges all stakeholders to accelerate the 
implementation of accreditation programs for privacy and proxy services for 
WHOIS.
3. WHOIS
The GAC urges the ICANN Board to: a. ensure that the GAC Principles Regarding 
gTLD WHOIS Services, approved
in 2007, are duly taken into account by the recently established Directory 
Services Expert Working Group.
The GAC stands ready to respond to any questions with regard to the GAC 
Principles.
The GAC also expects its views to be incorporated into whatever subsequent 
policy development process might be initiated once the Expert Working Group 
concludes its efforts.
4. International Olympic Committee and Red Cross /Red Crescent Consistent with 
its previous communications, the GAC advises the ICANN Board to:
a. amend the provisions in the new gTLD Registry Agreement pertaining to the 
IOC/RCRC names to confirm that the protections will be made permanent prior to 
the delegation of any new gTLDs.

--
Steve DelBianco
Executive Director
NetChoice
http://www.NetChoice.org and http://blog.netchoice.org
+1.202.420.7482