[bc-gnso] ICANN News Alert -- ICANN Updates Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels

[Steve DelBianco <sdelbianco@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is relevant to discussion on yesterday’s BC Member call, regarding 
streamlined approvals for geo names in dot-brand TLDs.  In particular, note 
that 2-char release requests will identify whether the TLD is a dot-brand.  
(see red text below)

[ICANN]<http://www.icann.org/>
News Alert

https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2015-02-20-en

________________________________
ICANN Updates Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels

20 February 2015

Today, ICANN is announcing updates to the "Authorization Process for the 
Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels" to take into account additional 
direction from the ICANN Board. On 12 February 2015, the Board took 
action<https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2015-02-12-en#2.a>
 to accept advice from the Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) on this 
subject issued in the GAC's 11 February 2015 Communiqué – 
Singapore<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/gac-to-board-11feb15-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 113 KB], and directed the President and CEO, or his designee, to proceed 
immediately to implement the following changes to the process:

  *   Implement improvements to the process to alert relevant governments when 
requests are initiated. Comments from relevant governments will be fully 
considered.
  *   For new requests, the comment period will be for 60 days.
  *   For requests with pending or completed comment periods, extend or re-open 
the comment period so that each request will undergo 60 days of comment period 
in total.

The updates to the process are effective as of 23 February 2015. The webpage 
where users can review requests has also been updated with several enhancements 
to improve navigability and allow users to find information more easily. New 
features include the following:

  *   Requests can now be sorted by reference number, TLD, registry name and 
date posted.
  *   The list of all requests for letter/letter two-character ASCII labels is 
now available for download as a .csv file.
  *   A column has been added to identify whether a TLD has been granted a 
.BRAND specification.
  *   The "View Comments" page has been updated to show all comments made in a 
calendar year, rather than showing comments on a month-by-month basis.

Please refer to the Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character ASCII 
Labels<https://www.icann.org/resources/two-character-labels> webpage for 
additional details.