Comment on New gTLD Applicant Support Program: Financial Assistance

[<Mary.Wong@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The ICANN Board's commitment to ensuring accessibility to the new gTLD program 
by needy applicants, particularly those working in the public interest in 
developing countries, is both welcome and necessary. In addition, the work done 
to shape and create a workable, fair and specific program of financial 
assistance by the ICANN staff and community, in particular the JAS WG and the 
At Large New gTLD WG, is very much appreciated. 

The current proposals reflect the thoughtfulness and tremendous effort that 
have gone into this very worthy program. Nonetheless, several concerns remain, 
in particular those raised by the At Large New gTLD WG in its comments 
concerning the use of the US$2m and the need for better, more comprehensive and 
directed outreach. 

On the US$2m, it is possible - particularly given that the number of deserving 
applicants are unknown - that there may be more such deserving applicants 
and/or many with severe financial needs than even the fairest and most 
scrupulous attempt at equitable distribution might not be sufficient to provide 
truly meaningful assistance. In this regard the JAS and At Large New gTLD WG's 
suggestions as to seed funding should be further considered.

In addition, the At Large New gTLD WG's recommendation of a possible refund 
procedure is worth considering. Additionally, given the possibility of being 
disqualified from the new gTLD program altogether, certain applicants who do 
not meet a less critical item in the list of the threshold criteria could be 
given an opportunity by rhe SARP to "show cause" why they ought not to be 
disqualified.

On outreach, there is a real need to develop contact points, better ground 
level communcations and a deeper knowledge and understanding of the diversity 
of needs and cultures, and the means of reaching different communities, in the 
vast and diverse number of countries and non-homogenous cultures loosely 
grouped into a generic category termed the "developing world". Time is of the 
essence in this case, although this is a persistent issue in overall ICANN 
outreach - members of the ICANN community with deep ties in and members from 
develooing countries, such as those from At Large, the Non Commercial 
Stakeholder Group and the JAS WG, can be of great assistance to ICANN.

The Board's actions and the Financial Assistance criteria, process and overall 
program - are significant steps in the right direction after 2 years of 
difficult challenges and hard work. The new gTLD website, including the online 
Applicant Support Directory, are also good initiatives that I hope will be very 
helpful, particularly to new entrants to the ICANN community. 

Note: I offer these comments in my personal capacity, and not on behslf of my 
employer or any group I am otherwise associated with, including the 
Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group or as one of its Council representatives, 
which I am currently. 

Mary Wong