ICANN is on a journey to reinvent today’s WHOIS system. The Expert Working Group on gTLD Directory Services (EWG) is an important part of this journey, and we need YOUR help as we approach the final phase of our work to identify a replacement for WHOIS.
The EWG is currently in its final research and information gathering phase. In order to produce fact-based recommendations that are informed by current practices, the EWG has released a series of Requests for Information (RFI’s) addressing key issues. The results of this fact finding will be closely examined by the EWG as it finalizes its recommendations.
Please help to shape a new Registration Directory Services (RDS) by sharing your insights on these topics…
ccTLD WHOIS Data Verification/Validation Questionnaire
If you are a ccTLD operator, the EWG invites you to respond to this survey about existing WHOIS data verification and validation practices applied to ccTLD domain names. Responses will help the EWG identify practices that might be commercially reasonable and feasible for gTLD domain names under the proposed RDS. Responses are requested by 28 February 2014.
- Questionnaire Address for On-Line Participation
- Form Download for Email Submission to ccTLD-EWG-Survey@icann.org: PDF Form [PDF, 279 KB]
- Close Date: 28 February 2014, 23:59 UTC
WHOIS Privacy and Proxy Service Provider Questionnaire
If you are a Privacy and Proxy (P/P) Provider, the EWG invites you to respond to this survey about current practices. Responses will be used by the EWG to inform its deliberations as it develops recommendations for best practices within the proposed RDS, and also to inform on-going GNSO policy development efforts on privacy and proxy service accreditation issues issues. Responses are requested by 28 February 2014.
- For More Information: Announcement
- Questionnaire Address for On-Line Participation
- Form Download for Email Submission to PP-EWG-Survey@icann.org: PDF form [PDF, 281 KB]
- Close Date: 28 February 2014, 23:59 UTC
RFI on Contact Data Validation and Verification Systems
If your organization provides services or software that might be capable of validating / verifying domain name registration contact data (such as WHOIS) you are invited to respond to this RFI. This RFI is purely informational, intended to inform the development of policies and procedures that may follow two initiatives: the EWG’s recommendations for a next-generation RDS, and ICANN’s need for postal address cross-field validation services as described by the 2013 Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA). Responses are requested by 7 March 2014.
- For More Information: Announcement
- Requirements and Instructions Download: RFI [PDF, 395 KB]
- RFI Responses should be Submitted via Email to rfi-response@icann.org
- Close Date: 7 March 2014, 23:59 UTC
RFI on Registration Directory Service User Accreditation
If your organization currently issues system access credentials to authorized members of your own community, using defined acceptance criteria, you are invited to respond to this RFI. This RFI is purely informational. The EWG hopes to build upon existing membership or credentialing processes to fulfill RDS user accreditation needs, should ICANN pursue RDS implementation in the future. Responses are requested by 10 March 2014.
- For More Information: Announcement
- Requirements and Instructions Download: RFI [PDF, 787 KB]
- RFI Responses should be Submitted via Email to rfi-response@icann.org
- Close Date: 10 March 2014, 23:59 UTC
Further Research Topics
The EWG is exploring further research topics enumerated in its Status Update Report and may publish additional survey or RFI invitations on its public wiki.
Public Comment on EWG Recommendations
To provide additional input to the EWG beyond these research topics, please submit public comments by 28 February 2014, 23:59 UTC, to input-to-ewg@icann.org. All public comments sent to this address are archived here: http://mm.icann.org/pipermail/input-to-ewg/
Next Steps
The EWG will reconvene in Singapore next monthto complete its recommendations, informed by your feedback and an in-depth analysis of research topics identified above, with the goal of delivering its final report to the ICANN Board in June 2014. The GNSO may subsequently be requested by the Board to commence a PDP to examine the policy implications of the EWG recommendations.
Please consider contributing to the EWG’s fact finding mission. Your input is greatly appreciated!