[gnso-vi-feb10] Re: Consolidated Response to Jeff & Anthony

[Antony Van Couvering <avc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Micheal,

I thought we were doing this in response to the Board resolution, and I thought 
we were examining what the best solutions might be and proposing something to 
the Board.  

But according to you I am mistaken: we are actually acting in response to the 
GAC Communique, or rather, to your interpretation of what it means.  And if we 
don't like your questionnaire, then you will ask the co-chairs to report us to 
the GAC. 

By all means, carry on with this if you must.  But your hypothetical examples 
still have problems, which despite your promise to "respond jointly" [sic], you 
have not addressed. Believe it or not my comments were meant to be 
constructive: getting the questions wrong will lead to flawed results. 

I don't think Jeff or I said anything about negative about vertical integration 
of single registrant TLDs.  On the contrary, it is perfectly obvious to me that 
there should be. In fact I was wondering why vertical integration shouldn't be 
allowed across the board, and therefore questioning the value of singling out 
one group.  

A number of straw proposals have been thrown out for consideration by the 
group.  I thank you and your co-writers for having taken the trouble to add 
your thoughts to those proffered by others, but they are one set among many.  
Can you explain why your proposal is privileged above others, such that 
non-response should be taken as evidence of disobedience to the GAC?  You are 
not the only one to have mentioned single-registrant TLDs.

Antony



On Mar 26, 2010, at 9:32 PM, Michael D. Palage wrote:

> Jeff/Anthony,
>  
> Let me respond jointly to your concerns.
>  
> When ICANN first decided to “revisit” vertical separation, was it done as 
> part of the ICANN bottom up consensus process, was it done in connection in 
> the original new gTLD PDP? The answer to these questions is NO. It was 
> unilaterally undertaken by ICANN staff as part of the new gTLD 
> ”implementation” process in response to concerns not from registries, not 
> from consumers, but from registrars that were looking to expand their 
> business operations in connection with new gTLDs.
>  
> Now the CRAI report which was part of the ICANN staff’s implementation 
> process specifically referenced two models to move forward in a controlled 
> responsible manner. One of those models was single registrant TLDs, and CRAI 
> recognized the market inefficiencies in requiring the same entity to secure a 
> separate ICANN accreditation to deal with itself. However, no one was happy 
> with these results so ICANN then went out and got some new economists that 
> miraculously agreed with some of the modified proposals that the registrars 
> put forward in response to the CRAI report. 
>  
> Now when you talk about the limited scope of this Working Group, I would 
> respectfully point the both of you to the following excerpt from the GAC 
> Nairobi communiqué “The GAC draws attention to the need to explore further 
> the regime applicable to single registrant TLDs should they be authorized.”  
> I understand that you both want the new gTLD process to launch ASAP. While I 
> also have a number of clients eagerly waiting to submit their applications 
> with ICANN, I remain supportive of ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee 
> (GAC) advice on the need for ICANN to take some extra time and get it right.
>  
> Anthony you may recall in connection with our recent public exchanges in 
> connection with the EOI, I firmly believe that the ICANN Board has an 
> obligation under its bylaws and the Affirmation of Commitment to consult with 
> the GAC on important public policy issues. I believe a number of the hypos 
> present clear important public policy considerations.  Now if the consensus 
> of this working group is to reject the potential information gathering 
> exercise put forth in the survey that Milton, Avri and I jointly developed 
> and if it is the further consensus of this group that true vertical 
> integration in connection with single registrant TLDs is not under 
> consideration/out of scope, then the co-chairs should promptly notify the GAC 
> of this unfortunate development.
>  
> Best regards,
>  
> Michael
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of Jeff Eckhaus
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 6:45 PM
> To: Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] 360 Degree Market Analysis with a focus on the 
> consumer
>  
> I have been following this line of discussion and reading and re-reading the 
> survey and its examples and have hesitated on commenting until the end of the 
> “two week period”  but am a little concerned about the direction of the 
> arguments and where we are heading.
>  
> I understand the need to think outside the box and explore scenarios and do 
> 360 degree market analysis , but believe we still need to keep within the 
> Objectives of this WG. This Working Group is here to analyze and review 
> options for registry- registrar separation and equivalent and 
> non-discriminatory access. I see the line of questioning here pointing toward 
> an option of not having to use an ICANN accredited registrar. This is not an 
> option and believe it was resolved with Recommendation 19. The requirement 
> that all new TLD registries are required to use ICANN accredited registrar as 
> distributors of their service. This should not be a new or offensive thought, 
> since all it means is the entity would need to sign and be bound by an RAA.
>  
> Now I know there are certain people in this working group that were very much 
> against Recommendation 19 and strongly argued against it. I hope that this WG 
> is not being used as an avenue to re-open that discussion for people who were 
> not happy with the decisions.
>  
> I am not saying that we should not undertake analysis and do what this WG 
> feels is best for the consumer, but we must focus on the tasks at hand and 
> avoid scope creep. I personally have an issue with the question regarding my 
> company eNom. While I understand it is hypothetical , I do not see the 
> question relating to registry – registrar separation. The question that I am 
> reading, and is asking this WG if I am concerned with on Hypothetical # 8 is 
> if it is OK for eNom to keep premium names for its exclusive use.  All this 
> hypothetical does is put eNom in an unflattering position and not address 
> separation.
> While I know there is a disclaimer in the beginning saying that this 
> hypothetical and only meant to stimulate conversation, that disclaimer to me 
> is the equivalent of saying “With all due respect” right before you insult 
> someone.
>  
> I do appreciate the steps to think outside the box and have people look at 
> hypothetical scenarios, all I ask we look at ones that are germane to this 
> working group.
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Jeff
>  
>  
> From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of Ron Andruff
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 2:17 PM
> To: 'Michael D. Palage'; Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [gnso-vi-feb10] 360 Degree Market Analysis with a focus on the 
> consumer
>  
> Mike,
>  
> I think you’ve nailed my perspective on this matter.  Best interest of 
> consumers first.  What improves their experience is what we are after.  What 
> is quickly becoming apparent, however, is that one size VI will not fit the 
> myriad of possibilities.  How long is that list of scenarios?  When you, 
> Milton and Avri created your scenarios, did you have a sense that you covered 
> the spectrum of possibilities or were just scratching the surface?
>  
> Kind regards,
>  
> RA
>  
> Ronald N. Andruff
>  
> From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of Michael D. Palage
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 4:15 PM
> To: 'Jothan Frakes'; Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [gnso-vi-feb10] 360 Degree Market Analysis with a focus on the 
> consumer
>  
> Jothan,
>  
> I think as a working group we need to undertake a 360 degree analysis of the 
> marketplace . Than being said I think the primary focus should be on what is 
> in the best interest of consumers. 
>  
> Getting back to the examples used in the survey. I selected .COMCAST as an 
> hypothetical TLD because they are my current ISP of choice. I am generally 
> happy with the service that Comcast provides me, therefore why do I need to 
> interject another party between me and my ISP? While I would view this as a 
> nuisance, what would the impact/inconvenience  be on less sophisticated 
> users. In the PENDR Working Group I often used the benchmark of does this 
> proposed policy make this easier or more difficult for my mom to use the 
> Internet?
>  
> Another hypothetical omitted from the survey was that of a .LAW TLD.  As an 
> attorney I pay annual membership fees to the State Bar, it would be a lot 
> more convenient for me as a consumer to interact with them to ensure that any 
> additional whois elements necessary for my inclusion into the .LAW TLD were 
> taken care of by them since they already have that data.  While I am happy 
> GoDaddy customer in connection with my  existing gTLD registrations, having 
> GoDaddy stand between me and the .LAW registry does not represent my best 
> interests, does not increase my user experience, and is likely to impede 
> innovation and choice.
>  
> Just my two cents.
>  
> Best regards,
>  
> Michael
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
>  
> From: owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx] On 
> Behalf Of Jothan Frakes
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 1:28 PM
> To: Gnso-vi-feb10@xxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [gnso-vi-feb10] Looking at this from the Registrars as Channel 
> Perspective and that benefit...
>  
> Hi-
> 
> In our efforts within the VIWG, I have noticed and it has been brought to my 
> attention that we're looking at things through the prism angle of the 
> registry.
> 
> I am in no way expressing the Registrar Stakeholder perspective on this, nor 
> have I vetted this message with them.  I want only to aid the dialog within 
> this working group by taking a perspective of the registrar channel into 
> consideration in the process of our efforts.
> 
> For the benefit of the list activities, I would encourage people interested 
> in some of the things that a registrar might be taking into consideration in 
> the new TLD launch process
> to view a presentation that I did in October of 2008 at the CENTR General 
> Assembly in Piza, Italy.  
> 
> The presentation is from an aggregated applicant perspective and discussions 
> that had occurred in Paris at the 2008 meeting and takes into consideration 
> bullet points from conversations with many of the applicants and communities 
> seeking to apply for new TLDs.
> 
> Applicants (not to me confused with registries or registry service providers) 
> look to the registrars as a channel to reach a larger audience, adoption, and 
> ultimately natural use.  Registrars come in a variety of types of services 
> and business models, support a variety of languages, and offer cultural and 
> local advantages due to geographical diversity.
> 
> Slides 7-10 are related to 'Channel' and worth a look because they focus in a 
> little bit on those areas.
> https://www.centr.org/main/lib/g1/4622-CTR.html (click download)
> 
> I'll caveat the slides to state that there was no DAG available at the time 
> the presentation was made, and that presentation predates the 2009 RAA and 
> any nuances that it contains which might have changed since would not be 
> reflected.
> 
> Still, the information contained in it might prove helpful for our 
> discussions, take what you like and leave the rest.
> 
> -jothan
> 
> Jothan Frakes
> +1.206-355-0230 tel
> +1.206-201-6881 fax