[cctld-discuss] ccTLD Extract from ICANN's 8th report to DoC
ICANN has just reported to the US Government's Department of Commerce, which it is required to do under its agreement to be the Newco suggested by the White paper. In the MoU, as now amended, are the tasks ICANN has to achieve. Item 7 below is the task relating to cctlds. Here's what they said on August 12; ( see http://www.icann.org/general/status-report-01aug03.htm) 7. Continue its efforts to achieve stable agreements with ccTLD operators that address, among other things, issues affecting the stable and secure operation of the DNS, including: delegation and redelegation of ccTLDs; allocation of global and local policy-formulation responsibility; and the relationship between a ccTLD operator and its relevant government or public authority. Such efforts shall include activities to foster greater dialogue between ccTLD operators and the GAC During the past year, ICANN has achieved significant progress in working cooperatively with ccTLD operators and ccTLD community to address issues affecting the stable and secure operation of the DNS. This has been achieved through regular and ongoing dialogue between ICANN, the approximately 250 ccTLD operators and the GAC, including meetings between ccTLD operators and the GAC at ICANN meetings; attendance of ICANN staff at ccTLD regional meetings; and joint efforts exploring mechanisms to improve the timeliness and efficiency of the performance of the IANA function as it impacts ccTLD operators. ICANN has also focused on encouraging and facilitating participation by ccTLDs in ICANN, using means such as increased dissemination of information and outreach on ccTLD issues where possible and attending and contributing to relevant discussions in other forums. An important step in the past year was the formation of the Country-Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) at ICANN's June 2003 Montreal meeting. The ccNSO was constructed with the goal of providing targeted and influential participation by ccTLD managers in matters affecting global Internet policy. The ccNSO's formation documents included the policy-development process and method of analysis of the scope of the ccNSO's policy-development role. To contribute to fostering greater dialogue between ccTLD operators and the GAC within the ccNSO structure, the ccNSO structure includes a non-voting GAC liaison on the ccNSO Council, and built into the ccNSO policy development process is ongoing consultation with the GAC. Significant progress was also made in the past year with ccTLDs on the issues of process and theory on redelegations and the establishment of frameworks for accountability of ccTLD managers. Step by step procedures for ccTLD redelegations have been outlined and publicly noticed to the community by ICANN. Progress by ICANN on negotiating and entering into frameworks of accountability with ccTLDs has brought the total of completed agreements with ccTLD managers to thirteen. Discussions are also underway regarding agreements with several additional ccTLD managers. These frameworks of accountability track the recommendations contained in the February 2000 Governmental Advisory Committee principles for the administration and delegation of ccTLDs. 8. Continue the process of implementing new top level domains (TLDs), which process shall include consideration and evaluation of: cheers Peter Dengate Thrush Senior Vice Chair APTLD +64 4 499 8959 +64 21 499 888 |