Comments from the Arab Team for domain names and Internet Issues on joint WG on new gTLD Applicant Support Snapshot

[ibaa oueichek <oueichek@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

 ICANN Board’s recognition of this important issue in connection with its March 
2010 Nairobi resolution is well appreciated. We have been following  the ICANN 
community’s work in connection with the  Joint Applicant Support (JAS) Working 
Group. We also believe that the ICANN Government Advisory Committee (GAC) 
communiqué in connection with this issue is also relevant, specifically that 
ICANN is urged, “ to set technical and other requirements, including cost 
considerations, at a reasonable and proportionate level in order not to exclude 
developing country stakeholders from participating in the new gTLD-process. Key 
documents should be available in all UN languages. The GAC urges that the 
communications and outreach strategy for the new gTLD round be developed with 
this issue of inclusiveness as a key priority.”

While we continue to follow the important work of this group, there are two 
important points that need to be taken into account prior to the issuance of 
any final report. First the proposal to prohibit “any” support from 
applications in connection with governments is overly broad and inappropriate. 
Second, while fully supportive of the need to ensure the protection of 
registrants in the event of a registry failure, the primarily reliance by ICANN 
on a financial instrument is misguided. There are other mechanisms, beside mere 
financial instruments, that exist to safeguard registrant interests in the case 
of a registry failure.  While ICANN’s application fee may represent a barrier 
to enter for some potential applicants, the potential posting of a financial 
instrument prior to the launch of the gTLD represents a much more substantial 
barrier to entry. This Working Group should address what other support 
mechanisms exist in the potential case of a registry failure and how they could 
be made available to applicants.

On Behalf of the team

Dr. Ibaa Oueichek

Chairman of the Arab Team for domain names and Internet issues