Q1: In the introduction of new TLDs, what steps should be
taken to coordinate with the Internet Engineering Task Force, the Internet Architecture
Board, and other organizations dealing with Internet protocols and standards?
Technical
coordination is essential. These bodies should be asked to provide solutions to the
needs expresed by users.Q2: What stability concerns are associated with the initial
phases of registration within the TLD?
If there is a land-rush, ICANN will have
failed.
Q3: What can be done to eliminate or reduce these stability concerns?
Avoid
prolonging scarcity.
Avoid increasing opportunities for cyber piracy and user
fraud.
Q4: Would these stability concerns be magnified by introducing a large number
of TLDs at once?
No - they might be solved.
Q5: Are there any practical means
of reversing the introduction of a significant new TLD once it goes into operation?
No.
Q6: Is it feasible to introduce a TLD on a "trial basis," giving clear
notice that the TLD might be discontinued after the trial is completed?
No. -
the test would be false as take up would be low.
Q7: To ensure continued stability,
what characteristics should be sought in a proposed TLD and in the organization(s)
proposing to sponsor and/or operate it?
Putative registrars applications should
conform to the folloiwng principles:
1. Meaning: An application for a TLD should
explain the significance of
the proposed TLD string, and how the applicant contemplates
that the new
TLD will be perceived by the relevant population of net users.
The
application may contemplate that the proposed TLD string will have its
primary
semantic meaning in a language other than English.
2. Enforcement: An application
for a TLD should explain the mechanism for
charter enforcement where relevant
and desired.
3. Differentiation: The selection of a TLD string should not confuse
net
users, and so TLDs should be clearly differentiated by the string and/or by
the
marketing and functionality associated with the string.
4. Diversity: New TLDs
are important to meet the needs of an expanding
Internet community. They
should serve both commercial and non-commercial
goals.
5. Honesty: A TLD should
not unnecessarily increase opportunities for
malicious or criminal elements who
wish to defraud net users.
6. Competition: The authorization process for new TLDs
should not be used
as a means of protecting existing service providers from competition.