[soac-newgtldapsup-wg] New gTLD Program - publication of summaries and analysis - published

[Karla Valente <karla.valente@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear all:

Please see below.

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-22feb11-en.htm


ICANN is publishing today the summaries and analyses of public comment on the 
previous version of the Applicant Guidebook and on other previously published 
New gTLD Program papers.
ICANN thanks all those who participated in the various public comment periods. 
ICANN has read and considered each of the submissions, and summaries and 
analysis of comment are now available for the following:

 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: Proposed Final New gTLD Applicant 
Guidebook<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/summary-analysis-proposed-final-guidebook-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 709 KB] (12 Nov 10 - 15 Jan 11)
 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: An Economic Framework for the Analysis of 
the Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domain Names (Phase I 
Report)<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/analysis-response-economic-framework-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 311 KB] (16 Jun 10 - 21 Jul 10) This analysis has been completed by the 
authors of the report.
 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: Economic Considerations in the Expansion of 
Generic Top-Level Domain Names (Phase II Report: Case 
Studies)<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/analysis-response-phase-ii-report-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 267 KB] (3 Dec 10 - 15 Jan 11) This analysis has been completed by the 
authors of the report.
 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: Summary of the Impact of Root Zone 
Scaling<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/summary-analysis-root-zone-scaling-impact-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 159 KB] (6 Nov 10 - 7 Nov 10)
 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: Milestone Report and Addenda: Joint SO/AC 
Working Group on Applicant 
Support<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/summary-analysis-applicant-support-report-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 19 KB] (11 Nov 10 - 10 Jan 11) This analysis has been completed by the 
Working Group.
 *   Comment Summary and Analysis: Delegation Rate Scenarios for New 
gTLDs<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/summary-analysis-delegation-rate-scenarios-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 36 KB] (6 Oct 10 - 5 Nov 10)
Two new papers discussing specific aspects of the program will be published in 
addition:

 *   A study of defensive registrations and registrant behavior in order to 
better understand the prevalence of defensive registrations in new gTLDs.
 *   Community gTLD change request 
handling<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/explantory-memo-community-change-request-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 105 KB]:  a discussion draft for a procedure to address the need for a 
process to evaluate proposed amendments that may have the effect of changing 
the charter or purpose of a community-based TLD. The ICANN Board directed the 
formulation of such a briefing paper for the GNSO.
Also being published under separate cover are:

 *   The IDN Variant Issues Project: A Study of Issues Related to the 
Delegation of IDN Variant 
TLDs<http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/idn-variant-tlds-delegation-21feb11-en.pdf>
 [PDF, 393 KB]; and
 *   A set of briefing 
papers<http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-6-21feb11-en.htm> for 
the upcoming ICANN Board and Governmental Advisory Committee consultation 
scheduled for 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2011 in Brussels.
The ICANN Board and Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) will meet in 
Brussels<http://meetings.icann.org/board-gac-spring11> from 28 Feb - 1 Mar and 
during the ICANN meeting in San Francisco (13 - 18 March) in the interest of 
resolving the outstanding issues the GAC has identified with the new gTLD 
process.
A new version of the Applicant Guidebook is not being published at this time. 
This decision was made with the intent to avoid presuming the outcomes of the 
discussions among the Board, GAC, and community. Given the short time period 
between these consultations and the ICANN meeting in San Francisco, there is 
little utility to publishing a version with new changes, which would also be 
subject to additional changes based on the outcomes of these meetings, and 
without time for comment between versions.
Work on the Applicant Guidebook is continuing in parallel with these 
activities. ICANN is continuing to work with stakeholder groups in order to 
fully understand comments made on the Guidebook and make changes based upon 
them. It is expected that the next version of the Guidebook to be released will 
incorporate updates based on: public comment, ongoing consultations, and 
changes resulting from the Board-GAC consultations and from community 
discussions in San Francisco.
Expected Path Forward

 *   Board-GAC Consultations: 28 Feb - 1 Mar 2011
 *   ICANN meeting: 14 - 18 Mar 2011
 *   Release of Applicant Guidebook: 14 Apr 2011


Thank you,

Karla Valente
Director, gTLD Registry Programs
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Direct:  + 1 310 301 3878
Mobile:  +1 310 936 4639
Skype: kdlvalente