Thank You Note and IDN Revision Update

["Tina Dam" <dam@xxxxxxxxx>]

The members of the TLD registries working group for the revision of the IDN
Guidelines wish to express their gratitude to all of the individuals and
organizations who submitted comments to the public forum on the draft text.
We similarly acknowledge the advice provided via other channels, and are
especially appreciative of the support given in response to our requests for
expert assistance. It will take us some time to act upon all of this
material in the detail that it deserves. We have already begun that process,
but it is not yet possible to foresee the full extent to which this
wide-ranging input will be reflected in the final text.

The working group was formed to revise the IDN Guidelines that had been in
effect since June 2003. One of the first matters considered was whether to
modify the existing text incrementally, or to replace it with a completely
new document. Given the acute nature of some IDN concerns, we decided to
produce a revised version of the Guidelines retaining their initial format
as rapidly as possible, and then initiate the preparation of a more robust
instrument with which to replace them altogether.

Similar considerations are reflected in comments submitted about the
resulting draft. Although opinions differ on the extent to which the time
devoted to the incremental revision was well spent, that effort has already
been made and further energy has been contributed by those who have
suggested alternate wording for key segments of the draft. The working group
is therefore going to conclude the first phase of its action with a final
modification to the current draft, incorporating those components of the
submitted commentary that were intended to be utilized in that manner and
which we feel to be consistent with the scope and disposition of the
document. In parallel, the working group will begin to reframe the
Guidelines completely in a manner appropriate for further development as a
Best Current Practices (BCP) document, for which formal IETF status will be
sought.

It is not yet possible to set a timetable for the appearance of an initial
version of the successor document. As comments on the present draft
indicate, there are important issues relevant to IDN policy that it does not
cover. Some of this criticism addresses issues that are outside the working
group's mandate. However, one of the reasons why the incremental revision of
the Guidelines is being taken to a rapid and formal conclusion is to provide
a freer basis for working group participation in the discussion of the
additional issues. One of the most pressing such concerns is preparation for
the appearance of IDN on the top-level of the DNS.

When the working group has dealt with all of the submitted commentary, we
will provide a point-by-point summary, including our response to each
recommendation. To allow for additional feedback during the course of the
actions described here, the forum for public commentary has been opened at:
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-guidelines/.

Please note, however, that the substantive detail of the incremental
revision to the guidelines will be based on the commentary that has already
been received. The new forum is appropriate to the consideration of
ancillary issues, including those relevant to the successor document that
will be placed on a BCP track.

The original announcement of the draft revised guidelines is available here.


The Members of Working Group