[gnso-whoissurvey-dt] FW: News Release: ICANN Board Addresses WHOIS

[Don Blumenthal <dblumenthal@xxxxxxx>]

FYI.



19 November 2012
For Immediate Release
ICANN Board Launches New Effort to Tackle gTLD Registration Data Challenges 
Based on Policy Review Team Report
Approved resolution also reconfirms full support for
Enforcement of WHOIS policy and obligations

Los Angeles, California…  The ICANN Board of Directors has directed the Chief 
Executive Officer to launch a new effort to re-examine the purpose of 
collecting, maintaining and providing access to generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) 
registration data. The move follows the recommendations of a review team that 
examined implementation of WHOIS data policy.

WHOIS is a listing of domain registrants and their contact information.

“WHOIS began more than 25 years ago, before there was even a World Wide Web and 
its purpose was far more technical than it is today,” said Dr. Stephen D. 
Crocker, ICANN Board Chair. “It’s clear that we have to take a thorough look at 
WHOIS from the ground up, and that’s what we’re asking the CEO to do - what 
should WHOIS be and how can we best improve its accuracy?”

The Board tasked the CEO to go beyond the existing WHOIS protocol and start a 
new initiative focused on directory services. In response CEO Fadi Chehadé will 
convene an expert working group to help lay the foundation for new policy 
development work.

The Board resolution also directs the CEO to continue to fully enforce the 
contractual conditions that relate to the current collection, access and 
accuracy of gTLD registration data, and increase efforts to communicate and 
conduct outreach ensuring compliance with existing WHOIS policy and conditions.

“It’s basically a two-track approach,” said Crocker. “In addition to a full 
examination of WHOIS, the Board wants to make certain that enforcement of 
existing WHOIS reporting requirements is strengthened in conformance with the 
Affirmation of Commitments and the recommendations of the WHOIS Review Team.”

The Affirmation of Commitments (AoC) is an agreement signed by ICANN and the 
U.S. Department of Commerce in 2009 that, among other things, commits ICANN to 
enforcing existing policies relating to WHOIS.

##

To read the Board resolution on WHOIS, go here: 
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/resolutions-08nov12-en.htm#1

To read the report of the WHOIS Policy Review Team, go here:   
http://www.icann.org/en/groups/board/documents/briefing-materials-1-08nov12-en.pdf

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