June 2011 - KICTANet

Kenya ICT Board & vision 2030 Video on Fibre Optic and emerging opportunities in the ICT Sector
by Barrack Otieno 25 Jun '11

25 Jun '11

Listers, I just watched the above mentioned presentation on Citizen Tv and i must commend all involved in the production for a great job, however i have the following observations: The advert looks a bit alien yet it is meant to capture the attention of Mwananchi in Mararal, why cant we consider the use of local languages say Kiswahili, at least an average villager can understand the Language. Secondly i was hoping there would be a component to advocate for preservation of the cable as a strategic national resource, you will all agree with more homes embracing Fibre and triple pay services, downtime will be intolerable in the near future, the key problem has been vandalism, why cant we educate the public to desist from such in the same breath, i remember participating in a radio interview with an international station when the Seacom cable landed and they asked me to do it in Swahili, it took me a back but the strategy was clear, educating the common man in a language they understand. I remember Robert Yawe raising the issue of communication strategy in a recent meeting we had on Digital Villages, hence my reason for raising the flag hopefully before the billboards and newspaper adverts go out there. -- Barrack O. Otieno Afriregister Ltd (Kenya) www.afrire <http://www.afriregister.com>gister.bi, www.afriregister.com<http://www.afriergister.com> <http://www.afriregister.com>ICANN accredited registrar +254721325277 +254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otieno

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Fwd: [afren] Fwd: [UbuntuNet Alliance Board] Cal for Applications - Project Manager for AfricaConnect
by Michuki Mwangi 24 Jun '11

24 Jun '11

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [afren] Fwd: [UbuntuNet Alliance Board] Cal for Applications - Project Manager for AfricaConnect Date: Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:21:00 +0000 From: Boubakar Barry <barry(a)aau.org> To: afren(a)afnog.org FYI. You may want or know somebody who may want to apply. B. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Tusu Tusubira* <ceo(a)ubuntunet.net <mailto:ceo@ubuntunet.net>> Date: Fri, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:41 AM Subject: [UbuntuNet Alliance Board] Cal for Applications - Project Manager for AfricaConnect To: nren-community(a)lists.ubuntunet.net <mailto:nren-community@lists.ubuntunet.net>, board(a)lists.ubuntunet.net <mailto:board@lists.ubuntunet.net> Cc: Beatrice Ng'ambi <beatngambi(a)ubuntunet.net <mailto:beatngambi@ubuntunet.net>>, Margaret Ngwira <mengwira(a)ubuntunet.net <mailto:mengwira@ubuntunet.net>>, Tiwonge Msulira Banda <Tiwonge.Banda(a)ubuntunet.net <mailto:Tiwonge.Banda@ubuntunet.net>>, Information UbuntuNet <info(a)ubuntunet.net <mailto:info@ubuntunet.net>> Dear Colleagues, Please find an invitation for applications for the position of Project Manager, AfricaConnect. Please share this with people you believe would have the competence to take on the assignment. Regards -- F F Tusubira CEO, UbuntuNet Alliance "Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi www.ubuntunet.net <http://www.ubuntunet.net> www.fftusubira.com <http://www.fftusubira.com> _______________________________________________ Board mailing list Board(a)lists.ubuntunet.net <mailto:Board@lists.ubuntunet.net> http://lists.ubuntunet.net/listinfo/board

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Newest Name for AID ? Impact Sourcing ...
by Agosta Liko 23 Jun '11

23 Jun '11

First, they called is Social Entrepreneurship, Then impact Investing ....now its Impact Sourcing ....... http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/press-releases/rockefeller-founda… Press Releases ShareThis Rockefeller Foundation to Foster Impact Sourcing in Africa: Poverty Reduction through ICT Jobs June 17, 2011 / Press Releases *New York, NY*—A new report funded by the Rockefeller Foundation estimates that the field of Impact Sourcing, employing socioeconomically disadvantaged people in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centers, is currently $4.5 billion and has the potential to reach $20 billion and employ 780,000 by 2015. The report, conducted by Monitor Group, suggests a strong business case for Impact Sourcing, which can provide high-quality, reliable services at prices that are at least competitive with traditional BPO centers and, in some cases, almost 40 percent lower than what traditional providers can offer. The findings, contained in the new working paper, *Job Creation through Building the Field of Impact Sourcing<http://www.monitor.com/Portals/0/MonitorContent/imported/MonitorUnitedState…>, *also finds significant potential for poverty alleviation because Impact Sourcing workers can earn incomes up to 100 percent over alternative employment options. The working paper is part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Poverty Reduction through Information and Digital Employment (PRIDE) work. Through PRIDE, the Rockefeller Foundation plans to support the development and testing of Impact Sourcing business models, support research on interventions and continue to build the network of key Impact Sourcing stakeholders to advance the field. Impact Sourcing employs individuals with limited opportunity for sustainable employment as principal workers in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) centers to provide high-quality, information-based services to domestic and international public and private-sector clients. “Harnessing the global BPO trend, PRIDE exemplifies the Rockefeller Foundation’s commitment to promoting growth with equity, in which the poor and vulnerable have more access to opportunities, such as ICT employment,” said Dr. James Nyoro, Managing Director, Africa. “The Foundation is proud to partner with Monitor on this important research, which drives the idea that employing low-income workers will provide them with sustainable income which can lead to positive social outcomes, ultimately helping to improve livelihoods and build relevant skills for employment in the fast growing ICT sector.” *Job Creation through Building the Field of Impact Sourcing<http://www.monitor.com/Portals/0/MonitorContent/imported/MonitorUnitedState…> *features case studies on current Impact Sourcing models in Africa, India and other regions, including those of Foundation grantees like Digital Divide Data, a social enterprise with the objective of creating jobs for poor and disadvantaged youth in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya; and Samasource, an intermediary that markets and sells Impact Sourcing services to clients based in the United States and United Kingdom. “Based on more than 120 interviews across 13 countries with Impact Sourcing managers, providers of BPO services, outsourcing experts, employees, outsourcing clients, government officials, and other individuals linked to the Impact Sourcing space, this analysis creates a shared understanding of the current situation, the size of the opportunity and action agenda necessary to build this field,” said Michael Kubzansky, Global Heald of the Monitor Inclusive Markets Initiative. * * *The Rockefeller Foundation* The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission to promote the well-being of people throughout the world has remained unchanged since its founding in 1913. Today, that mission is applied to an era of rapid globalization. Our vision is that this century will be one in which globalization’s benefits are more widely shared and its challenges are more easily weathered. To realize this vision, the Foundation seeks to achieve two fundamental goals in our work. First, we seek to build resilience that enhances individual, community and institutional capacity to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of acute crises and chronic stresses. Second, we seek to promote growth with equity in which the poor and vulnerable have more access to opportunities that improve their lives. In order to achieve these goals, the Foundation constructs its work into time-bound initiatives that have defined objectives and strategies for impact. These initiatives address challenges that lie either within or at the intersections of five issue areas: basic survival safeguards, global health, environment and climate change, urbanization, and social and economic security. * * *About Monitor Group* Monitor works with the world's leading corporations, governments and social sector organizations to drive growth in ways that are most important to them. Monitor Group offers a range of services—advisory, capability-building and capital services—designed to unlock the challenges of achieving sustainable growth. Monitor brings leading-edge ideas, approaches and methods to bear on clients' toughest problems and biggest opportunities. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the firm employs more than 1,500 people in 18 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.monitor.com. Monitor Inclusive Markets (MIM) catalyzes support for market-based solutions to social challenges. MIM does this by understanding and improving the business models of enterprises currently engaging people that live at the bottom of the economic pyramid, particularly helping these enterprises reach scale and commercial viability. For more information, visit www.mim.monitor.com. ### For media inquiries, please contact: Svetlana Vaisman <svaisman(a)rockfound.org> 917-975-5318

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Local Content Perception survey
by dmbuvi＠gmail.com 23 Jun '11

23 Jun '11

If you have trouble viewing or submitting this form, you can fill it out online: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGxnQkdyVktKUn… Local Content Perception survey I, Dennis Mbuvi will be part of a panel at the upcoming AITEC Broadcast and Film Africa (BFA) [http://www.aitecafrica.com/event/view/71] conference. I will be discussing challenges facing content producers in Africa. I would like to collect your views on locally produced content, especially your commercial perspective. The questions below are all optional, but please assist by answering as much as you can. The survey covers digital content ie movies, music, animations, electronic books. Would you buy any locally produced content - music, video (movies,animation), literature Yes No Have you ever bought any locally produced digital content? Yes No If you have purchased locally produced content, how much of it have you purchased in total 1 copy 1 - 5 copies 5 - 10 copies more than 10 copies At what price would you be comfortable purchasing locally produced music at? eg Kshs 50, Kshs 100, Kshs 500 At what price would you be comfortable purchasing locally produced video content at? eg Kshs 50, Kshs 100, Kshs 500 How would you rate the majority of locally produced content? High Average Below Average Do you believe content producers are doing enough to market their content in Africa? Why do you say so? Any additional remarks on locally produced content Powered by Google Docs Report Abuse - Terms of Service - Additional Terms

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Invite to Mobile Monday - 27th June
by James Muendo 23 Jun '11

23 Jun '11

Hi All, Morning. Monday the 27th June 2011(Which is next Monday) we would like to invite you to Mobile Monday that will be at the iHub Nairobi (Directions: Its on the 4th floor, Bishop Magua Centre,Right Opposite Uchumi Hyper,Ngong Road, ),at 6pm, Where we will be hosting the exciting part 3 of *Local Developers and their successes. *On our speaker list: 1. *Whive *– Winners in the Mobile Gaming, Entertainment and Utilities category of the just concluded Pivot25 competition *By John Karanja * 2. *Tuvitu*– Tuvitu is no stranger to the MOMO community, it was first launched by Mbugua Njihia during our 2nd meet up . *with Anthony Karanja* 3. *Language Translation Apps-*One of the best, light and fastest offline English Spanish translator. It translates English words and phrases to Spanish and Spanish words and phrases to English. This is a must have translator for all type of persons; students, professionals and others. Equipped with customized user settings and friendly user Interface making it one of the easiest Translators to use*By Dadiaus Momanyi* At the end of the event,there will be an excellent opportunity to network with other mobile developers,entrepreneurs and enthusiasts. Bring a friend or 2.To register, http://momoke2706.eventbrite.com/. Do you want to know more about Mobile Monday and any Events? For more information check out: - website: www.mobilemonday.co.ke - twitter: twitter.com/mobilemondayke - facebook: facebook.com/mobilemondayke If you'd like to be present during the meet up in July please send us an email at *talk(a)mobilemonday.co.ke *and we will set up a slot for you Enjoy the rest of your day Regards, -- James M. Muendo P.O Box 28016 - 00200, Nairobi. Mobile: +254725567508 skype:tim.rick | Twitter: Mmuendo | gtalk: timrick

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IETF Fellowship Announcement (IETF 82 and 83)
by alice＠apc.org 23 Jun '11

23 Jun '11

Dear Colleagues, The Internet Society has announced that it is inviting applications for its latest Internet Society Fellowships to the IETF, part of its Next Generation Leaders (NGL) programme (www.InternetSociety.org/Leaders) The Fellowship programme allows engineers from developing countries to attend an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting. As you know, the IETF is the Internet's premier standards-making body, responsible for the development of protocols used in IP-based networks. IETF participants represent an international community of network designers, operators, vendors, and researchers involved in the technical operation of the Internet and the continuing evolution of Internet architecture. Fellowships will be awarded through a competitive application process. The Internet Society is currently accepting fellowship applications for the next two IETF meetings: * IETF 82, 13 - 18 Nov 2011, Taipei, TW * IETF 83, 25 - 30 March, Paris, FR http://www.isoc.org/educpillar/fellowship/index.php Fellowship applications for both IETF meetings are due by 15 July 2011. I encourage you to pass on information about this program to individuals involved in your network that have a keen interest in the Internet standardisation activities of the IETF. The Internet Society Fellowships to the IETF are sponsored by Afilias, Google, Microsoft, and Intel. The Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders programme is sponsored by Nominet Trust, the Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération (AFNIC), SIDN, and the European Commission. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Steve Conte <conte[at]isoc[dot]org>. Kind Regards, Steve Conte Internet Society ----- Steve Conte conte(a)isoc.org

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Re: [kictanet] Newest Name for AID ? Impact Sourcing ...
by Chris Foster 22 Jun '11

22 Jun '11

Hi Andrea, I'm totally in agreement with you that this area is subject to extreme hype, and I look forward to someone doing some proper research on the likes of Samasource and txteagle for us to really to see what their outcomes are :) However, I do think that the idea of impact/social outsourcing has merit which deserves attention. It starts from the empirical evidence from Asia that BPO/outsourcing generally brings benefits to middle-class and educated but with little trickle down to those closer to poverty......and social outsourcing has been successful in many cases in reaching such groups! (e.g See 'datamation' in India who employ over thousands from poor backgrounds in outsourcing, or my supervisor Richard Heeks' research in India related to small enterprise outsourcing http://ict4dblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/development-2-0-case-study-social… ) Also, I'm not sure the larger BPO players have much to fear from this competition. Larger players by their nature will deal with larger batches of work with higher quality requirements. In the case of India's there seems to be no evidence that the 'conventional' BPO sector has been adversely effected by the presence and publicity of such social organizations. For what I hear there is some government in such ideas in Kenya, and this makes sense. BPO is central to Vision 2030, but it is an expensive undertaking. It seems logical that planners would look for ways to improve the equitable outcomes of such large investments throughout society, rather than their investing leading in increasing IT-led inequality.... Thanks Chris -- Christopher Foster PhD Researcher, Centre for Development Informatics (CDI) IDPM, University of Manchester, UK Skype: cgfoster

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Re: [kictanet] ICANN Approves Historic Change to Internet's Domain Name System
by alice＠apc.org 22 Jun '11

22 Jun '11

Barrack, thanks. This will form basis for several workshops proposed for the upcoming UN-IGF and we may want to include it as an agenda item during our national IGF in July. The responsibility of enabling increased access/penetration to the internet while a very important issue is not really for ICANN. New gTLDs were launched and will crowd the domain name space and if most of our developing countries are not involved we shall continue to experience the digital divide. As noted earlier, there were previously 22 gTLDs none of them operated/owned in Africa for example we may have maybe 200-500 new ones, how many of these will be African applicants? We have managed to encourage ICANN to make provisions to support new gTLD applicants from developing countries, which is an important first step. Regarding competing favorably, we need more entrepreneurs in this area to apply and manage new gTLDS. Best Alice > Thanks Alice and Washi, like Washington says i also embraced the news with some pessimism due to the fact that the levels and rate of penetration of the internet as well as the awareness of matters pertaining to the domain name industry are not very encouraging on the African continent, i wonder whether anything was discussed towards this end otherwise as Washington says the benefits might be skewed towards the western world because of global politics, i recall that there were already guys lobbying for some of the gtlds which i will not mention here during last years ICANN and they treated us to a sumptuous dinner which we could not refuse in the true African Spirit. We look forwad to more information i am sure some of this issues could form good discussion topics during the forthcoming IGF. > On another note we have able leaders representing this great continent at the ICANN meeting, Katim, Ann-Rachel, Alice among others sitting at vantage points in various commitees, i would wish to challenge all of you to look at frameworks that will help this continent move away from asking for waivers and compete favourably with the other economic powerhouses, i am sure a discussion around this during the forthcoming IGF is likely to be exciting as well. > > Thank you > > On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 1:25 PM, <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > The application fee is steep, not to mention other related fees that could > eventually amount to over 1mUS$ or more. > This issue has been debated over a long time and the decision to estalish > the so called "Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group" was > to develop a sustainable approach in providing support to applicants from > developing countries who can not afford those amounts, plus the technical > requirement among others. So if dot jaluo meets the required criteria > would qualify for support. > > best > alice > > > On 6/21/11 11:34 AM, Odhiambo Washington wrote: > > > Thanks for this Alice. > > Please excuse my pessimism, but I still think "Internet Presence" needs to > be determined by how many people are connected, as opposed to the > availability of gTLDs. > Then I also see this new development as something which appears to have > been prompted by the "elite club" Suppose I wanted to create dot.jaluo, it > means I have to cough USD 185'000? Yawa?? I know conglomerates will afford > this, not the "ordinary Internet user" hapa mashinani (mashinani == KE). > > > > > > On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 11:19, <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > > > The new gTLDs will effectively allow the creation of any TLD with up > to 64 > > characters, generic words, brand names, regional suffixes, allowing > > owners to become domain registries. According to the CEO, this will > open > > up the domain "naming system to unleash the global human > imagination," . > > This development will also provide owners with the rights to create top > > level domain names in any script or language. Applications for gTLDs > will > > be accepted from 12 January to 12 April 2012. > > > > There are currently only 22 generic top level domains, which are .com, > > .int, .edu, .mil, .net, .org, .arpa, .info, ,museum, .name, .pro, > .asia, > > .cat. .jobs. .mobi. .post . biz, .tel .coop, .travel. .tel, gov. > > > > With this new development, there is likely to be several hundred new > > generic top-level domain names which could include such addresses as . > > bank, .hotel. .shop, .coke, . africa, .nairobi, among others. It will > > cost US$185,000 to apply among other requirements, like technical > > standards, etc a price that rich global organizations will be > willing to > > pay to maximize their presence on the internet. > > Too expensive? > > > > Yes particularly for developing countries with the same needs to not > only > > increase our presence on the internet but for some to protect against > > trademark infringement dot.mpesa anyone? > > > > During the ICANN meeting in Nairobi, the Government Advisory committee > > (GAC) had advised the board to initiate a process that would see > > provisions made to support needy applicants and applications from > > developing countries. > > > > The Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group was set up > with > > the main objective to develop a sustainable approach in providing > support > > to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new > gTLDs > > Registries. > > This group have recommended a number of innovative approaches that are > > currently under consideration by ICANN community including the > government > > advisory committee. > > Yesterday's resolution included a "program to ensure support for > > applicants from developing countries, with a form, structure and > processes > > to be determined by the Board in consultation with stakeholders > including: > > (a) consideration of the GAC recommendation for a fee waiver > corresponding > > to 76 percent of the $185,000 USD evaluation fee, (b) consideration of > > recommendations of the ALAC and GNSO as chartering organizations of the > > Joint Applicant Support (JAS) Working Group, (c) designation of a > budget > > of up to $2 million USD for seed funding, and creating opportunities > for > > other parties to provide matching funds.........Final Report from > the JAS > > Working Group (requested in time to allow staff to develop an > > implementation plan for the Board’s consideration at its October 2011 > > meeting in Dakar, Senegal), with the goal of having a sustainable > > applicant support system in place before the opening of the application > > window"; > > > > > > > > More on this later > > > > Very best > > > > Alice > > > > > -- > > Best regards, > > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > > Nairobi,KE > > +254733744121/+254722743223 > > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > > I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. > > Please consider the environment before printing this email. > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > kictanet mailing list > kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > > Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/otieno.barrack%40gmail… > > The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development. > > KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications. > > > > > -- > Barrack O. Otieno > Afriregister Ltd (Kenya) > www.afriregister.bi, www.afriregister.com > ICANN accredited registrar > +254721325277 > +254-20-2498789 > Skype: barrack.otieno >

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Re: [kictanet] ICANN Approves Historic Change to Internet's Domain Name System
by alice＠apc.org 21 Jun '11

21 Jun '11

The application fee is steep, not to mention other related fees that could eventually amount to over 1mUS$ or more. This issue has been debated over a long time and the decision to estalish the so called "Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group" was to develop a sustainable approach in providing support to applicants from developing countries who can not afford those amounts, plus the technical requirement among others. So if dot jaluo meets the required criteria would qualify for support. best alice On 6/21/11 11:34 AM, Odhiambo Washington wrote: Thanks for this Alice. Please excuse my pessimism, but I still think "Internet Presence" needs to be determined by how many people are connected, as opposed to the availability of gTLDs. Then I also see this new development as something which appears to have been prompted by the "elite club" Suppose I wanted to create dot.jaluo, it means I have to cough USD 185'000? Yawa?? I know conglomerates will afford this, not the "ordinary Internet user" hapa mashinani (mashinani == KE). > > > On Tue, Jun 21, 2011 at 11:19, <alice(a)apc.org> wrote: > > The new gTLDs will effectively allow the creation of any TLD with up to 64 > characters, generic words, brand names, regional suffixes, allowing > owners to become domain registries. According to the CEO, this will open > up the domain "naming system to unleash the global human imagination," . > This development will also provide owners with the rights to create top > level domain names in any script or language. Applications for gTLDs will > be accepted from 12 January to 12 April 2012. > > There are currently only 22 generic top level domains, which are .com, > .int, .edu, .mil, .net, .org, .arpa, .info, ,museum, .name, .pro, .asia, > .cat. .jobs. .mobi. .post . biz, .tel .coop, .travel. .tel, gov. > > With this new development, there is likely to be several hundred new > generic top-level domain names which could include such addresses as . > bank, .hotel. .shop, .coke, . africa, .nairobi, among others. It will > cost US$185,000 to apply among other requirements, like technical > standards, etc a price that rich global organizations will be willing to > pay to maximize their presence on the internet. > Too expensive? > > Yes particularly for developing countries with the same needs to not only > increase our presence on the internet but for some to protect against > trademark infringement dot.mpesa anyone? > > During the ICANN meeting in Nairobi, the Government Advisory committee > (GAC) had advised the board to initiate a process that would see > provisions made to support needy applicants and applications from > developing countries. > > The Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group was set up with > the main objective to develop a sustainable approach in providing support > to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs > Registries. > This group have recommended a number of innovative approaches that are > currently under consideration by ICANN community including the government > advisory committee. > Yesterday's resolution included a "program to ensure support for > applicants from developing countries, with a form, structure and processes > to be determined by the Board in consultation with stakeholders including: > (a) consideration of the GAC recommendation for a fee waiver corresponding > to 76 percent of the $185,000 USD evaluation fee, (b) consideration of > recommendations of the ALAC and GNSO as chartering organizations of the > Joint Applicant Support (JAS) Working Group, (c) designation of a budget > of up to $2 million USD for seed funding, and creating opportunities for > other parties to provide matching funds.........Final Report from the JAS > Working Group (requested in time to allow staff to develop an > implementation plan for the Board’s consideration at its October 2011 > meeting in Dakar, Senegal), with the goal of having a sustainable > applicant support system in place before the opening of the application > window"; > > > > More on this later > > Very best > > Alice > > -- > Best regards, > Odhiambo WASHINGTON, > Nairobi,KE > +254733744121/+254722743223 > _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ > I can't hear you -- I'm using the scrambler. > Please consider the environment before printing this email. >

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ICANN Approves Historic Change to Internet's Domain Name System
by alice＠apc.org 21 Jun '11

21 Jun '11

The new gTLDs will effectively allow the creation of any TLD with up to 64 characters, generic words, brand names, regional suffixes, allowing owners to become domain registries. According to the CEO, this will open up the domain "naming system to unleash the global human imagination," . This development will also provide owners with the rights to create top level domain names in any script or language. Applications for gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January to 12 April 2012. There are currently only 22 generic top level domains, which are .com, .int, .edu, .mil, .net, .org, .arpa, .info, ,museum, .name, .pro, .asia, .cat. .jobs. .mobi. .post . biz, .tel .coop, .travel. .tel, gov. With this new development, there is likely to be several hundred new generic top-level domain names which could include such addresses as . bank, .hotel. .shop, .coke, . africa, .nairobi, among others. It will cost US$185,000 to apply among other requirements, like technical standards, etc a price that rich global organizations will be willing to pay to maximize their presence on the internet. Too expensive? Yes particularly for developing countries with the same needs to not only increase our presence on the internet but for some to protect against trademark infringement dot.mpesa anyone? During the ICANN meeting in Nairobi, the Government Advisory committee (GAC) had advised the board to initiate a process that would see provisions made to support needy applicants and applications from developing countries. The Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group was set up with the main objective to develop a sustainable approach in providing support to applicants requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs Registries. This group have recommended a number of innovative approaches that are currently under consideration by ICANN community including the government advisory committee. Yesterday's resolution included a "program to ensure support for applicants from developing countries, with a form, structure and processes to be determined by the Board in consultation with stakeholders including: (a) consideration of the GAC recommendation for a fee waiver corresponding to 76 percent of the $185,000 USD evaluation fee, (b) consideration of recommendations of the ALAC and GNSO as chartering organizations of the Joint Applicant Support (JAS) Working Group, (c) designation of a budget of up to $2 million USD for seed funding, and creating opportunities for other parties to provide matching funds.........Final Report from the JAS Working Group (requested in time to allow staff to develop an implementation plan for the Board’s consideration at its October 2011 meeting in Dakar, Senegal), with the goal of having a sustainable applicant support system in place before the opening of the application window"; More on this later Very best Alice

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