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Asia Pacific Regional IGF. Lessons from ICANN’s new gTLD program Singapore – June 17, 2011. 4 yrs NOT long for a program like the new gTLDs ! . It feels a long time because the new gTLDs were announced as a done deal back in June 2008.
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Asia Pacific Regional IGF LessonsfromICANN’s new gTLD program Singapore – June 17, 2011
4 yrs NOT long for a program like the new gTLDs! • It feels a long time • because the new gTLDs were announced as a done deal back in June 2008. • because since then ICANN has openly encouraged business initiatives around new gTLDs, but has not given a stable timeline for the program’s launch. • because outside ICANN, hard to understand the issues and to read past the headlines that new gTLDs are coming tomorrow. • But…
4 yrs is NOT a long time for a governance body to design a new set of rules as far reaching as the new gTLD program is likely to be for the Internet!
Governments believe in the BU MS process… up to a point! • GAC has actively engaged in the consultations. • Impressive work was done on the Brussels Scorecard and in subsequent consultations (SFO). • But GAC issues coming in late -> risk of short-circuiting the GNSO-initiated BU PDP.
The BU PDP takes time! • An example: Ry/Rr separation. • This issue problematic in part because Board stepped in without waiting for GNSO policy recommendation. • ICANN founding principle: PD will be a BU process in which every stakeholder has an equal voice. • GAC/Board consultations give one stakeholder a greater voice than the others.
But everyone is right! • GAC, for pointing out items it has issues with. • Board, for wanting to bring the new gTLD program to completion after so many expectations have been built up around it for so many years. • Community, for not wanting to see the PD process hijacked by one party.
And everyone is learning! • The Board. It actively engaged in discussions and recognized the need to seriously address governments’ issues. • The GAC. It worked harder than before to identify its issues and explain them. • The Community. Principles matter, and process matters at ICANN, otherwise expectations end up getting dashed and new initiatives may take longer to enact than anticipated.
The market will change! • What strategy for a leading registrar? • The answer seems easy. But is it? E.g., should registrars feel forced to become registries? • How will registrars process the high number of new TLDs? • Group NBT have chosen to aid their customers in becoming TLD operators, but is that a good fit for everyone?
The ICANN model is still very new! • Just over 10 yrs. Give it a chance. Other major governance bodies have had much longer to mature. • Jostling for position. Everyone needs to find their place in the model. Governments cannot have it all their own way, the rest of the community cannot dismiss governmental issues. • And…
In 1998, the year ICANN was created, there were: • Less than 2.5 million registered domain names. Today there are: More than 205 million!
In 1998, there were: • 8 gtLDs Today there are: 22! And…
In 1998, the Internet worked fine Today its still works fine !
Thankyou! Stéphane Van Gelder General manager, Group NBT France stephane.vangelder@indom.com Chair, GNSO Council INDOM 2008Journée des managers Lundi 30 juin 2008 - Honfleur • INDOM 2008Journée des managers • Lundi 30 juin 2008 - Honfleur