Dear Colleagues, FYI. In line with the Internet's bottom-up policy development process (PDP), please send in your comments on the fast-track/interim approach to delegating some IDN ccTLD's (see more on this below). KENIC can then collate the input (from the local Internet community) and send to the ccNSO. Regards, Vincent Ngundi KENIC Begin forwarded message:
-----Original Message----- From: "Mohammed EL Bashir" <admin@isoc.sd> To: "africann@afrinic.net" <africann@afrinic.net> Sent: 08/10/07 01:02 Subject: [AfrICANN-discuss] [Fwd: Questions on the Introduction of ccTLD Internationalised Domain Names]
Dear All,
FYI ccNSO is asking for input from ccTLD Registries on considering Fast Track/Interim approach for the launch of IDNs on Global DNS, this could happen while IDNs policy development process continue .
Can you please encourage your ccTLD Registries to respond and comment on the issue .
Regards, Mohamed EL Bashir .SD Registry - ccNSO Council
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Questions on the Introduction of ccTLD Internationalised Domain Names Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2007 16:12:30 +0200 From: Gabriella Schittek <gabriella.schittek@icann.org> <mailto:gabriella.schittek@icann.org> Reply-To: <gabriella.schittek@icann.org> <mailto:gabriella.schittek@icann.org> To: <admin@isoc.sd> <mailto:admin@isoc.sd> , <tech@isoc.sd> <mailto:tech@isoc.sd>
Dear ccTLD Manager,
Below you will find a letter from the ccNSO Chair Chris Disspain.
Please, reply to ccnsosecretariat@icann.org or directly to Chris at ceo@auda.org.au.
Kind regards,
Gabriella Schittek / ccNSO Secretariat
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Dear ccTLD Manager,
I am writing to you, in my capacity as Chairman of the Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (ccNSO), about the introduction of ccTLD Internationalised Domain Names (IDN ccTLDs). The input I am requesting from you is very important and your response will be much appreciated.
At the end of this email is a Background and References section that provides some background information and links to various documents.
Based on work done by the ccNSO and discussions amongst ccTLD managers in all regions the ccNSO has taken the first step to launching a Policy Development Process to set the overall policy for IDN ccTLDs.
At this stage, the ccNSO is also discussing whether or not to recommend that the ICANN Board consider a fast track/interim approach under which some IDN ccTLDs could be delegated while the overall policy is being developed. To help with those discussions we need to find out the level of interest in your territory and that is why I am writing to you.
While community feedback has encouraged the ccNSO to explore levels of interest in a fast-track/interim approach to IDN ccTLDs, this is the first of many steps that would have to be carefully and successfully taken towards that end and it is generally accepted that any implementation would have to be in compliance with current policies and procedures. Some of these that may be relevant are set out in the Background and References section below.
I would be grateful if you would answer the following questions:
1. Do you believe that the local community in your territory has a pressing need for an IDN ccTLD? 2. If so, is there yet agreement in your territory on the scripts and the string within the script(s) for which delegation of an IDN ccTLD would be sought, and could you indicate which strings and scripts are of interest? 3. Do you believe the delegation of an IDN ccTLD under a fast track/ interim approach would be of interest to your community?
The fast track/interim approach will be discussed by ccTLD managers at the ICANN meeting in Los Angeles. So, it would be most helpful if you could respond by 26 October 2007.
Background and References
In the Domain Name System, a ccTLD string (like .jp, .uk) has been defined to represent the name of a country, territory or area of geographical interest, and its subdivisions as identified in ISO 3166-1, and is represented by 2 US-ASCII characters (http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/ english_country_na mes_and_code_elements.htm). This method of identification was adopted for use in the Internet through RFC 920, dated October 1984, and reaffirmed through RFC 1591, dated March 1994. All ccTLDs in use today are taken directly from the ISO 3166-1 list or from the list of exceptionally reserved code elements defined by the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency.
The implementation of IDN ccTLDs introduces the (apparent) use of characters outside the US-ASCII character set (for example characters in Cyrillic, Chinese, Arabic, and other scripts) for domain name strings.
In initial discussions by the ccNSO members, other ccTLD managers and ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) a number of policy questions were identified and a "Questions and Issues Paper" was submitted to the ICANN Board of Directors (http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/ccnso-gac-issues-report-on- idn-09jul07.pdf) . It became clear that the development of the required policy for IDN ccTLDs to resolve the issues raised was likely to take a minimum of 2 years. It also became clear that such a time frame was a major concern for a number of ccTLD managers who have expressed there is a pressing need for an IDN ccTLD in their territory. Because of this, the concept of a fast track/ interim approach began to be discussed. In those discussions it was thought that it might be possible to find a method to allow the introduction of a limited number of IDN ccTLDs while the overall policy was being developed.
Policies and procedures that may be relevant to the delegation of an IDN ccTLD under a fast track/interim approach include:
the IDNA protocol standards (http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-11may07.htm); RFC 3454 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3454.txt); RFC 3490 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3490); RFC 3491 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3491.txt); RFC 3492 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3492.txt); RFC 1591 and associated procedures for delegation of a country code top level domain (http://www.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1591.txt) The GAC principles http://gac.icann.org/web/home/ccTLD_Principles.rtf.
Following consideration of the "Questions and Issues Paper", and statements of the GAC and ccTLD managers on a fast track/interim approach the ICANN Board has requested the ccNSO to explore both an interim and an overall approach to IDN ccTLDs associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes and to recommend a course of action to the Board taking the technical limitations and requirements into consideration http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm#m.
At its meeting on 2 October 2007, the ccNSO Council launched a Policy Development Process (ccPDP) by requesting a PDP Issues Report and appointing an Issues Manager. This ccPDP has been launched to develop an overall approach, which includes finding solutions for the matters raised in the "Questions and Issues Paper".
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Best Regards,
Mohamed El Bashir
President, Sudan Internet Society
.SD Domain Name Registry
Vice President, Communications & Out-Reach "African Top Level Domains Organization-AfTLD"
ICANN ccNSO Council Member
Personal Web : www.mbash.net
""Life lies not in never falling, but in rising when you fall." Nelson Mandela 1995, Easten Cape.
-- KeNIC - The Kenya Network Information Center http://www.kenic.or.ke