Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Registry Agreements

gTLD Registry Agreements establish the rights, duties, liabilities, and obligations ICANN requires of registry operators to run gTLDs.

Proposed TLD Sponsorship Agreement: Attachment 8 (.aero)

ICANN | Proposed TLD Sponsorship Agreement: Attachment 8 (.aero)

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Proposed TLD Sponsorship Agreement: Attachment 8 (.aero)

Posted: 17 November 2001


Start-Up Plan

This Attachment specifies the start-up plan for the .aero TLD. The start-up plan intends that the .aero TLD is introduced in an orderly, transparent and logical way, ensuring competition, fairness and reliability for authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars, registrants and the global aviation community (the "Community") as a whole. It aims to ensure a stable and effective registration process for the benefit of the entire Community.

The plan consists of a multiphase process summarized below.

Phase Start On End Before
Phase 0: Policy Development Period Started C - 2 months
Phase 1: Testing C - 2 months C - 2 weeks
Phase 2: Attribution of Names C - 2 weeks C
Phase 3: Commencement of Restricted Real Time Registrations C C + 6 months
Phase 4: Staged Introduction of Community Sectors C + 6 months C + 2 years
Phase 5: Full operation

C + 2 years

-

Phases 0, 1, 2, and 3 are considered the Policy Development and Demonstration Period as described in the Agreement.

Sponsor may launch each industry sector, as described in the Phase 3 section of this Attachment, on a rolling basis. The registration period and registration process for each industry sector may proceed independently of the launch of any other industry sector. Therefore, the start-up dates for each industry sector may vary.

Phase 0: Policy Development Period

Sponsor initiated the Policy Development Period in January 2001 when it established a specific industry consulting group and through the operation of this group, as well as through the Sponsor's usual consultation process, initiated active discussion with representatives of the Community.

After the Effective Date, ICANN will coordinate with IANA and Sponsor for the prompt addition of the .aero TLD in the root zone for testing, evaluation and public awareness. Prior to the .aero zone and nameservers being deployed and ready for operation, the nameservice will be operated by IANA and used for a limited list of names (specifically, register.aero, information.aero, nic.aero, and registry.aero). This will allow the early setup of website(s) providing the public with general information for the new .aero TLD.

Sponsor will continue to co-operate proactively with industry associations and other representative organizations to develop and document the Domain Management Policy ("DMP") for the .aero TLD. This co-operation will concentrate on finalizing the priorities between identified industry sectors of the Community, detailing of the eligibility criteria and naming conventions applicable for each sector.

No later than two months before the Commencement of Restricted Real Time Registrations ("Commencement Date"), Sponsor will publish the initial version of the DMP on the .aero TLD web site. The initial version of the DMP will (1) detail full definitions of the industry sectors eligible for registration, (2) eligibility criteria and naming conventions particular to each industry sector, and (3) respective priorities between these industry sectors. This information will be published at least two months before the commencement of registrations for a specific industry sector to allow a period for industry sectors to understand the process.

Also, in Phase 0 Sponsor will use reasonable commercial efforts to select ICANN-Accredited Registrars who will start processing registrations in Phase 3 as defined below. The selection process started on 11 June 2001 when Sponsor issued a call for an expression of interest open to all ICANN-Accredited Registrars.

After the information for each industry sector has been published and before the Commencement Date for a particular industry sector, Sponsor may introduce restricted ENS Service. This will enable potential registrants to prepare and submit a proof of membership in a particular industry sector of the Community to the Sponsor or its designee. Restricted ENS Service conducted before the Commencement Date will not provide for the reservation or pre-registration of domain names, it will only be concerned with testing the potential registrant's eligibility to register domain names in .aero TLD. In addition, the Sponsor will actively co-operate with relevant industry representative bodies to identify industry codes that will be subject to attribution (see Phase 2).

The Sponsor will give ICANN 30 days notice before the completion of the Policy Development Period and commencement of Testing Phase.

Phase 1: Testing

In Phase 1 the Sponsor will conduct comprehensive testing of the registry system and registration procedures (including the interfaces with Registrars and the ENS Services). Phase 1 testing will confirm that all entities involved in the registration process are adequately prepared for the commencement of Phase 2 and that the process itself is robust.

There will also be a testing period for other sectors of the Community as each industry sector is brought on line to confirm that ENS systems and other relevant systems are adequate.

Phase 2: Attribution of Names

After the registry system has been converted into production, the Sponsor will register in the registry system (1) domain names reserved from registration by ICANN as specified in Attachment 11, (2) Sponsor's Domain Names Registered Directly with the Registry Operator as specified in Attachment 13, and (3) attributed names identified in the DMP.

Sponsor will make provisions to actively enforce the specific restrictions and name attributions identified in the DMP. Pursuant to the DMP, Sponsor will attribute names to registrants within specific industry sectors. Attributed names will be based on specific coding allocations within each industry sector. An attributed name can be registered only by the registrant designated by Sponsor and only through an authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrar. DNS service will be available only after the attributed names have been properly registered through authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars in Phase 3 or later as appropriate.

The Sponsor will give ICANN 30 days notice before the commencement of Restricted Real Time Registrations Phase.

Phase 3: Restricted Real Time Registrations (Commencement Date)

On the Commencement Date, domain name registration requests that are in strict conformity with the DMP will be accepted through authorized ICANN-accredited Registrars. Sponsor will provide ENS Services for registration requests and may, at its discretion, outsource ENS Services to appropriate organizations of its choosing pursuant to the Agreement and Attachment 2.

The services to be offered from the commencement of this period are:

  • Registration of domain names strictly in accordance with DMP
  • DNS Service
  • ENS Service
  • Whois

The introduction of industry sectors during Phase 3 as well as Phase 4 will be conducted as a multistage process designed to resolve potential conflicts of names posed by the possible non-uniqueness of Community international codes and other names and trademarks.

During Phase 3 the Sponsor will admit several industry sectors - groups of eligible potential registrants - and will restrict the type of names that may be registered in a manner that recognizes registration priorities agreed within the Community and described in the DMP.

The multistage deployment plan is outlined below. The content is subject to revision during Phase 1 and further refinement in Phase 3.

Registrant Groups Possible Industry Representative Bodies Industry code Registered entity Trademark Functional (3rd level) Community Unregulated name
airlines IATA            
airports ACI            
civil aviation authorities ICAO No       No  
aerospace (airframe, engine & equipment manufacturers) tbd No          
aviation suppliers & service providers (catering, leasers, ground handling, insurance, IT, fuel etc.) tbd No          
air freight & logistics companies tbd No          
global distribution systems tbd            
aviation education and research (training centers, etc.) tbd No          
aviation information providers (flight ops, entertainement etc) tbd No          
aviation media (press, conferences and airshows) tbd No          
general/busines aviation companies tbd No          
air traffic control companies tbd No          
air safety, medical and certification entities tbd No          
government/intl organisations linked to commercial aviation (weather etc) tbd No          
aviation clubs tbd No No     No No
aviation industry associations tbd         No  
aircraft maintenance and engineering professionals tbd No No No   No No
aviation consultants tbd No No No   No No
pilots, crews and unions tbd No No No   No No

Notes:
IATA - International Air Transport Association
ACI - Airports Council International
ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organisation


Implementation:
  First month
  Months 2nd to 6th
  After 6th month

Although minimum conflict between registrants is anticipated, the registration process for each stage defined in the above table will commence with a round robin mechanism of processing requests from authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars.

During this Phase the Sponsor will closely monitor the day-to-day operation of Registry Services. It will tune and adjust policies, processes and other features that may influence the operation of Registry Services to ensure stable registry operation and prepare for introduction of further industry sectors in Phase 4.

It is estimated that the Phase 3 will take approximately 6 months. However, the Sponsor retains the right to prolong Phase 3, as well as any of the stages identified within Phase 3, if required to ensure a stable and effective registration process for the benefit of the entire Community.

The Sponsor will give ICANN 30 days notice before the completion of the Restricted Registrations Phase and commencement of Staged Introduction of Community Sectors.

Phase 4: Staged Introduction of Industry Sectors

The Sponsor will admit new industry sectors - groups of eligible potential registrants meeting the requirements of Attachments 1 and 5 - in a manner that recognizes priorities agreed within the Community and described in the DMP.

It is estimated that a staged admission of all currently identified industry sectors of the Community (Phases 3 and 4) will take approximately 2 years to accomplish. However, the Sponsor retains the right to shorten or extend the duration of Phase 4 and any of the stages within this period if required to ensure a stable and effective registration process and registry operation for the benefit of the entire Community.

Phase 5: Full Operation

On the commencement of Full Operation, domain name registration requests from all eligible registrants that are in strict conformity with the DMP will be accepted through authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars.

The Sponsor may from time to time include new industry sectors, consistent with the Charter. To ensure continuous stability of the registry operation, the Sponsor reserves the right to introduce mini start-up plans for potential registrants from new industry sectors, similar to the above-described Phases 3 or 4. These plans will include appropriate testing for the ENS and registration process.

Involvement of ICANN-Accredited Registrars

The .aero TLD is a restricted domain placing stringent eligibility criteria on registrants. Consequently, the number of registered names is expected to be very low in comparison with unsponsored TLDs.

To ensure efficient service delivery, and familiarity with the particular processes involved in ENS Services and its registration process, Sponsor will select ICANN-Accredited Registrars in accordance with the criteria described in the Attachment 9. The selection process will itself be competitive and open to all ICANN-Accredited Registrars.

SITA will make reasonable commercial efforts to select and maintain at least four ICANN-Accredited registrars for Phase 3, and at least eight ICANN-Accredited registrars for phase 4 and phase 5.

Alternate Registration Process

Sponsor may, during the launch of a specific industry sector, elect an alternate method of registering domain names other than utilizing authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars if such alternate registration method (1) lasts no more than six months after the launch of registration for the specific industry sector, with registrations during this period being for periods no longer than two years, (2) provides for the fair and random transfer of all Registered Names within the sector to authorized ICANN-Accredited Registrars within six months from the date of registration, (3) is determined by Sponsor, after consultation with the relevant sub-community, to be in the best interest of the specific industry sector, and (4) is expressly consented to by ICANN (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld).


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