[soac-newgtldapsup-wg] RE: public comment announcement - chairs, please review

[Karla Valente <karla.valente@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Carlton and Rafik,

Below is a revised version of the announcement incorporating Evan’s proposed 
changes (below in blue). If you are in agreement with this draft, I will go 
ahead and send it to communications for posting.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you,

Karla Valente
Director, gTLD Registry Programs
Mobile:  +1 310 936 4639

Public Comment: Work continues to expand Developing Economies participation in 
the New gTLD Program
__ June 2011
A message from the JAS WG:
The Second Milestone Report is being published for public comment today. It 
deals with a very important issue: how can ICANN assist applicants from 
developing economies to increase their participation in the new generic 
Top-Level Domain (New gTLD) Program?
The Second Milestone Report is a continuation of the work done by the Joint 
Applicant Support Working Group, also known as JAS WG.  The group is 
represented by ICANN community members that have been working together on this 
initiative since April 2010. The JAS WG was formed following a 
Resolution<http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm> from 
ICANN Board of Directors in Nairobi, on March 2010 that asked ICANN’s 
stakeholder community "...to develop a sustainable approach to providing 
support to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new 
gTLDs."
Below are some basic aspects of this important work. It is important to note 
that this proposal is under consideration by ICANN community, Board and staff. 
At this time, no specific Support Development Program is under development. 
Once a decision is made about the specific elements of this program, ICANN will 
make the details available.

 1.  What is this all about? What is a Milestone Report?
The Second Milestone Report is a document produced by the JAS WG that offers 
recommendations on how ICANN should develop a sustainable approach to providing 
support to applicants from developing economies requiring assistance in 
applying for and operating new gTLDs Registries. The Report proposes initial 
criteria for qualification as well as several other types of support for ICANN 
to considered. It has been approved by ALAC one of the chartering organizations 
of the working group, but it has not yet been approved by the GNSO.
The First Milestone Report was published for public comment in November 2011 
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report.
  Both reports presents the foundation for ICANN to establish a Support 
Development Program dedicated to this issue, however, the group intents to 
further develop this work in the near future.
This initiative is related to the New gTLD Program, which in the near future 
will allow entities from around the world to apply for a new generic top-level 
domain (new gTLD). The applicants passing the evaluation process, will sign a 
contract with ICANN and run a Registry.

 1.  Who is being considered to receive support?
Once the new gTLD applicant has demonstrated “service to the public interest”,” 
financial capabilities and need”, one or more of the following characteristics 
apply:
* Support by and/or for distinct cultural, linguistic and ethnic communities
* Service in an under-served language, the presence of which on the Internet 
has been limited
* Operation in an emerging market or nation in a manner that provides genuine 
local social benefit
* Sponsored by non-profit, civil society and non‐governmental organizations in 
a manner consistent with the organizations' social service mission(s)
* Operated by local entrepreneur, providing demonstrable social benefit in 
those geographic areas where market constraints make normal business operations 
more difficult
All applicants will be expected give a self‐declaration that they are eligible 
to receive support under these criteria.

3.      Who does  NOT qualify for support?
According to the JAS WG, the application must NOT have any of the following 
characteristics:
*  From a governmental or para‐statal applicant (subject to review, see below)
*  A TLD string explicitly based, and related to, a trademark (ie. a "dot 
brand" TLD)
*  A string that is, or is based on, a geographic name
*  Sponsors or partners who are bankrupt or under bankruptcy protection
*  Sponsors or partners who are subject of litigation or criminal investigation
*  Otherwise incapable of meeting any of the Applicant Guidebook's due 
diligence procedures

4.      Who benefits from this? Why is it important?

We all benefit from this initiative. The Internet belongs to all as well as the 
responsibility to look into effective ways to reduce the Digital Divide, in 
this particular case, by delivering a sustainable and critical support for 
applicants from developing economies and looking for a solution not only at the 
application phase but also through to the initial years of these new Registry 
operators.
It is important because the Internet is a virtual real estate that belongs to 
everyone. Entities from around the world should be able to increase their 
participation in the top-level expansion. The Working Group also stresses it is 
important not only to increase participation from developing economies, but 
also to increase the likelihood of success by these new participants that will 
be delivering Domain Name Services (DNS).
The current New gTLD Program, as design, has an evaluation (and several other 
fees) that are considered high for a significant number of potential 
participants from around the world. Besides the issue of high fees, the program 
is in English only and has an evaluation process with criteria and requirements 
that are quite complex to navigate.

 1.  Who is part of this Working Group?
This Working Group, also called Joint SO/AC WG on New gTLD Applicant Support or 
simply "JAS WG", is comprised of highly respected and experienced volunteers 
from the Supporting Organization and the Advisory Committee. This all-volunteer 
group teleconferences twice each week, and works through a wiki and mailing 
lists. These active contributors are located in Australia, Africa, Asia, 
Europe, South America and North America.

 1.  What happens next?
A number of follow up activities are anticipated:
o             The general public is strongly encouraged to participate in the 
public forum that can be found here: insert here the link to the public forum
o             The JAS WG will hold a session during the upcoming ICANN 
Singapore Meeting to both explain the Report and receive additional community 
feedback. This session will have remote participation for the people not able 
to attend in person. If you are interested in learning more and have questions, 
please see here the details:  http://singapore41.icann.org/node/24849
o             The Board, staff, advisory committees and supporting 
organizations will review the Second Milestone Report and public comments 
received
o             Commentary received regarding the JAS from within recent 
statements of the Governmental Advisory Committee will be addressed
o             The Board, upon consideration of the Report and its commentary, 
may instruct the JAS and staff to develop an implementation program based upon 
the Report and comments received.

 1.  How can one get involved?
One way to get involved is to provide a feedback using ICANN’s public comment 
forum. This is one of the ways ICANN listens to the global Internet community. 
You can find the link to this forum here: insert here the link to the public 
forum. The public forum will close on July 29 2011.

 1.  Where to find more information?
Relevant Resolutions and previous public forum:

    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm#20
    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-25sep10-en.htm#2.2
    *   http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-28oct10-en.htm
    *   http://gnso.icann.org/resolutions/#201004
    *   First Milestone Report Public Forum: 
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/public-comment-201012-en.htm#jas-milestone-report
    *
Information about the New gTLD Program: 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm
Archive regarding the WG activities:

    *   E-mail: 
soac-newgtldapsup-wg@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:soac-newgtldapsup-wg@xxxxxxxxx>
    *   Wiki: 
https://community.icann.org/display/jaswg/SO-AC+New+gTLD+Applicant+Support+Working+Group+%28JAS-WG%29



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