In support of the .COOP Sponsor's request

[graham.mitchell@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

For the attention of ICANN Board Members

In resolving this issue it is imperative to understand that there is a 
fundamental difference between a generic TLD like .com or .org and a 
sponsored TLD such as .coop

As a sponsored TLD .coop is only available to the eligible and verifiable 
community of organisations defined by the sponsor. In the specific case of 
.coop those defining characteristics themselves include subscription to a 
statement of shared values and principles. Consequently the .coop 
community of registrants is clearly defined and with a common 
understanding of how they conduct their affairs based on those shared 
values and principles.

The .coop sponsor, if it is to effectively support and nurture this 
community, and thereby support the TLD, must therefore have the freedom to 
make its case to ICANN to be exempted from a consensus policy that, while 
it may be perfectly reasonable in the context of gTLDs, would impact 
negatively on the fundamental rationale underpinning the .coop TLD.

Clearly, given the implications of making such a case, this step would 
only be taken as a measure of last resort, and only in such circumstances 
where compliance with consensus policies would create a clear conflict 
with the co-operative values and principles to the extent that such 
compliance would have substantial negative impact on the TLD and its 
community of registrants.

Such a freedom, contrary to weakening the stability and security of the 
Internet, in my view actually strengthens its security and stability, by 
enabling the .coop TLD sponsor to continue its excellent and diligent work 
in verifying eligibility and ensuring that the unique value of the .coop 
domain is maintained and enhanced.

Any such request for exemption would be subject to review, comment and 
ICANN Board approval, and with these checks, balances and an open and 
transparent process in place, can only be of benefit to the ICANN 
community specifically, and the broader online community in general.

Yours sincerely
Graham

_______________________________________________________________________________
Graham Mitchell

Marketing, Communications and Events
Co-operatives UK Limited
http://www.cooperatives-uk.coop

Sales and Support
Co-operatives UK Internet Services
http://uk.domains.coop

Holyoake House
Hanover Street
Manchester M60 0AS
UK

tel: +44 161 246 2953
mailto:graham@xxxxxxx
__________________________________________________________________________________


**************************************************************************
This message may contain confidential information and is intended only for the 
individual
or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the named addressee you 
should not
distribute, print or copy this e-mail. Please notify the sender immediately by 
e-mail if
you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your 
system. E-mail
transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information 
could be
intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain 
viruses.
The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in 
message or
its contents, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. In addition the 
message
should not be seen as forming a contract.
The Co-operative Group reserves the right to intercept e-mail received and 
sent. 
By sending emails to and from the Co-operative Group you also give your consent 
to 
monitoring and recording of e-mail correspondence for assessment of compliance 
with
the Co-operative Groups published rules.

Co-operative Group (CWS) Limited is registered in England and Wales, number 
525R.  
The registered office is at New Century House, Manchester, M60 4ES.
************************************************************************