FSC Opposes .XXX

[diane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><FONT face=Arial>Dear ICANN Board,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><FONT face=Arial>
I am the Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition, the trade
association for the adult entertainment industry.&nbsp; I would like to 
reiterate that the Free Speech Coalition is categorically opposed to .XXX 
sTLD.&nbsp; To put it simply...</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: 
normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT 
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B>&nbsp;</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: 
normal"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>.XXX is a very bad idea 
because:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; 
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>
It &ldquo;ghettoizes&rdquo; the industry, making adult entertainment an
easy target for anti-industry extremists and government 
intrusion.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; 
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>It will 
add, unnecessarily, to the cost of doing business.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: 
yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>
At $60 per URL per year, the cost to a member could reach tens of
thousands of dollars annually.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>
Many in the adult entertainment industry will purchase and park
addresses, realizing no benefit to this added expense.<SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>
Finally, there will be countless battles for names, and the resulting
arbitration will be costly.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; 
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>If a .XXX 
domain becomes available, it is likely that the <st1:place 
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United 
States</st1:country-region></st1:place>
 and other countries will try to make it mandatory and subject to
trans-Internet filtering that could effectively eliminate much of the adult 
content currently available on the Web.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; 
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>
The .XXX option could enable the industry&rsquo;s enemies to convert
even a voluntary .XXX domain use into an effectively mandatory requirement by 
pressuring private parties, such as credit card processors, to require .XXX use 
and compliance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>
In this way, ICM through unchecked rule-making could &ldquo;back
door&rdquo; all the governmental regulations that we have beaten back.<SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>
If that happens the industry would not have its most potent weapon, the
First Amendment to challenge ICM because ICM is not a governmental entity.<SPAN 
style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 
11pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial>&nbsp;</FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; 
tab-stops: list .5in"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face=Arial>
The ambiguity with which ICM plans to establish its governing board is
of grave concern as there exists strong potential for censorship, which is 
clearly not in the best interest of the industry or for ICANN. 
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></LI></UL>
<div>
We urge you to reject ICM's proposal for .XXX sTLD and put this issue to
rest once and for all.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Diane Duke<BR>Executive Director<BR>Free Speech 
Coalition<BR></div>