Comments on IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process

[Naveed haq <naveedpta@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The new version of draft implementation plan has briefly addressed raised 
concerns during previous comments period. I would like to submit comments on 
string confusion and contention section. There had been number of variance 
issues being pointed out by ICANN primarily related with those langauges who 
have more than script used for writing strings. 

 

ICANN would have to take a decision on the issue as it may pose some 
un-necessary delay on part of IDN ccTLD Fast process. There had been number of 
way-outs discussed including reservation of such strings or blocking them. The 
main objective of IDNs is to serve the local community of a country or 
territory who would feel more comfortable while typing the domain names in 
their native language than writing them in ASCII characters. This indeed is 
very much true. 

 

One of the potential solutions could be to reserve that version of IDN string 
which is more representable within a specific country, like for example the 
type of keyboards been used. As an example, presently the proposed IDN ccTLD 
.پاکستان ( in Urdu which is official langauge of Pakistan) is having a variance 
issue against a single character inside the string. In Pakistan, the keyboards 
which have urdu characters written over them use the arabic script version, 
this means that within Pakistan the user would type-in the arabic character 
version of .پاکستان. ICANN may take policy decision here allowing such version 
which is more suitable to serve the local community of Pakistan where the other 
version could be marked as reserved for not use. Taking a policy solution is 
more appropraite in such cases rather than the technical solution which again 
may result in the stability problems at root.

 

Second comments are on the fee structure. ICANN is in process of coming out 
with some intial application fee for IDN ccTLD. Though this differs from the 
present practice of normal ccTLD regime. However, one the same ground ICANN has 
spent some handsome finance on implementation of IDNs which require the 
contributions. Setting up an upfront fee associated with application submission 
could hamper countries with less resources but willing to be part of IDN ccTLD 
process. ICANN may set up a mechanism whereby a portion lets say 50% of the 
application fee could be charges upfront and rest may be divided into 
yearly-based installements or contributions from annual registeration fee 
earned. 


Regards,


Naveed-ul-Haq 
Assistant Director (ICT)
Pakistan Telecom Authority 
Headquarters F-5/1, 
Islamabad 
Ph. 92-51-9203911



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