.AFRICA comment - Prioritise GeoTLDs from Developing Regions

[Neil Dundas <ndundas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In agreeing with a previous comment posted by Rubens Kühl of NIC.br,  regional 
balance has been described as a pillar of the new gTLD program. Lack of 
regional balance in the proposed prioritisation methodology further diminishes 
ICANN's international outreach, instead of adding to it. 

However, in improving regional balance ICANN should also be looking towards 
underserved regions of the world, such as Africa. Africa is an underserved 
region by ICANN's own admission (hence JAS, hence the Africa strategy, etc.) 
and the proposed "africa" TLD  would have a positive impact in reaching out to 
this underserved region and community. 

We would like to see the new draw process include a preference for Geographic 
TLDs, in particular, Geographic TLDs from developing and underserved regions — 
especially Africa — so that they go first (not last) in the approval process.

Neil Dundas
ndundas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx