Comment on the gTLD Applicant Support Program (updated version; v2_20120110)

[Carolin Silbernagl <cs@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear ICANN-Board

dotHIV applies for the top-level domain .hiv to establish the red  
ribbon of the digital age. In creating a socially dedicated namespace,  
we fight HIV and Aids thereby operating in the global public interest.
As a non-profit organisation we pass all profits on to projects  
fighting the virus and its social effects: educational workers, health  
organizations, research projects and others with the ultimate goal to  
beat HIV/Aids one day.
The financial background of our TLD application is based on the  
generosity and the foresight of individuals who share our goals. As  
all proceeds are used for the cause, investors do not generate  
financial returns on their investment. Fundraising under such  
circumstances is obviously difficult.
This being said and in appreciation of the gTLD Applicant Support  
Program as a whole we would like to submit three comments and  
corresponding proposals for amendmend to the gTLD Applicant Support  
Program which are in line with the JAS working group recommendations:

Lower treshold to include community-targeted applicants

The definition of the ?public interest? criteria does not meet the  
recommendations by the JAS working group and seems to be too narrow to  
be reachable, especially for applicants serving a public interest, but  
operating in a developed economy.
We have compiled the following suggestions to change the wording  
without leaving the scope of the original criteria:
- Change ?community-based? to ?community-targeted? projects.
- Amend the definition of ?Public interest benefit to cultural,  
linguistic or ethnic communities? to ?Public interest benefit to  
cultural, linguistic or ethnic communities as well as communities with  
a defined social need in case, the TLD is employed to support the  
respective social cause.?
No rejection/disqualification of applications

We sincerely urge ICANN not to reject applicants who do not meet all  
of the criteria. This puts needy applicants under an additional risk.  
We kindly ask for an option for those applicants who closely missed  
the threshold (e.g. 7 of 16 points) to pursue the regular gTLD process  
along with a grace period to acquire the missing ressources. There has  
been no such recommendation by the JAS working group.
No further delays for applicants

Applications should be proceeded right after the final award  
announcement, latest in December 2012. Because of ongoing operational  
costs, further delays are especially hard to bear for socially driven  
applicants who have difficulties in financing their application.
We would like to thank ICANN for the opportunity to comment.

Carolin Silbernagl, chair of dotHIV e.V., Berlin, Germany

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Carolin Silbernagl
dotHIV gemeinnütziger e. V.
Lehmbruckstr. 3
10245 Berlin
Germany

cs@xxxxxxxxxx
www.dothiv.org

support us: facebook.com/dothiv

dotHIV gemeinnütziger e. V. (Incorporated Nonprofit Association)
Management Board: Carolin SIlbernagl, Tobias Mölder, Philipp Kafkoulas
Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Berlin (Charlottenburg) VR 31092,  
Registered Office: Berlin