Comments regarding economic studies

[Elaine Pruis <elaine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Kurt,

Thank you for the work you and your staff have done to develop the new  
gTLD program.
Rod Beckstrom said in the  Cartagena ICANN meeting opening ceremony,  
"opening up the namespace to New Generic Top Level Domains is intended  
to promote competition, innovation, and consumer choice."
Yet I am hearing in the halls and at the microphone some rumblings  
that despite many economic reports over the last several years that  
ICANN still hasn't proven adding more TLDs to the root would be  
beneficial to society; and that Must be proven before ICANN can open  
the New gTLD application window.
I think it is important for us a community to recognize the list of  
studies completed at $2 million cost to the ICANN community,
Report from CRA International “Revisiting Vertical Separation of  
Registries and Registrars”  (Oct 08)
Preliminary Analysis of Dennis Carlton Regarding Price Caps for New  
gTLD Internet Registries (Mar 09)
Preliminary Report of Dennis Carlton Regarding Impact of New gTLDs on  
Consumer Welfare  (Mar 09)
Comments on Michael Kende's Assessment of Preliminary Reports on  
Competition and Pricing   (Jun 09)
Report Of Dennis Carlton Regarding ICANN’s Proposed Mechanism for  
Introducing New gTLDs [ (Jun 09)
An Economic Framework for the Analysis of the Expansion of Generic Top- 
Level Domain Names (Jun 10)
Economic Considerations in the Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domain  
Names, Phase II Report: Case Studies (Phase II Report) (Dec 10)
In the opening ceremony Colombia's Minister of Technology provided a  
detailed presentation on efforts to bring innovation and jobs to  
Colombia through  the internet.  The Colombian government is  
committing 2.8 billion dollars despite the fact that numerous surveys  
conducted have shown that the majority of citizens in Colombia see no  
practical personal need for the internet.  He said   "If we make it  
available and build applications that are appealing, there will be  
more users, more demand, and therefore growth." If the groundwork and  
infrastructure is in place, innovation can occur and applications  
appealing to consumers can be built.
 The minister said "The opportunity to innovate on the internet will  
reduce poverty, create jobs, and, increase competition and safety."
At ICANN meetings we develop policy that is based on consensus  
position. Yet for the last two years we have heard a few self- 
protectionist opponents demand study after study that will prove the  
consumer need for innovation. In response many analogies have been  
expressed. Did the Wright Brothers do market studies to get a solid  
number on the demand to fly from consumers?  Looking back, would that  
study have been accurate?   How about the innovations to the bicycle?  
The consumer "need" for the iPhone?
Juan Calle, president of .co said
"With the new domain extensions, creativity can live to the right of  
the dot.  Registries will have to innovate to stay alive".
It is time to put the demand to prove the unpredictable to rest and  
allow innovation and progress to flourish.
Elaine Pruis
VP Client Services
elaine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
+1 509 899 3161