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Comments Encouraged on the Final Report of IDNC Working Group on ccTLD "Fast Track" Mechanisms

15 July 2008

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Final Report of IDNC WG [PDF, 100K]

Public Comment Forum Open Through 15 August 2008

Summary: The IDNC Working Group (IDNC WG) has developed its Final Report on feasible methods that would enable the timely and efficient ("fast track") introduction of a limited number of non-contentious IDN ccTLDs, while an overall long-term IDN ccTLD policy is being developed. The Final Report highlights the latest topics and issues that need to be considered in developing (1) a mechanism for the selection of the IDN ccTLD string and (2) a mechanism to designate an IDN ccTLD manager. The ICANN Board of Directors accepted the Final report at its 26 June meeting in Paris, France and directed that the report be made available for public comments.

Process: In addition to opening this new public forum, the ICANN Staff has been directed by the Board to begin work on implementation measures with relevant stakeholders to implement the fast track and to prepare a detailed implementation report to the Board before the ICANN Cairo meeting in November 2008. Comments submitted in this forum will be used by the staff to help fulfill those obligations.

Background: The IDNC WG was chartered by ICANN's Board to develop and report on feasible methods, if any, that would enable the introduction (in a timely manner and in a manner that ensures the continued security and stability of the Internet) of a limited number of non-contentious IDN ccTLDs, associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes (both the official code list of ISO 3166-1 and the list of reserved ISO 3166-1 code elements)(popularly known as "the fast track"), while the overall IDN ccTLD policy is being developed. The scope of the IDNC WG was limited to developing methods that would not pre-empt the ultimate policy outcomes of the IDN cc Policy Development Process (ccPDP).

As described in the Final Report, the fast track approach requires two specific mechanisms:

  1. A mechanism for the selection of the IDN ccTLD string; and
  2. A mechanism to designate an IDN ccTLD manager).

The Document: Final Report of IDNC WG [PDF, 100K]

Deadline and How To Submit Comments: The Public Comment forum on the Final Report of the IDNC WG will be open through 15 August 2008. Comments on the document are welcome via email to idn-cctld-fast-track@icann.org. An archive of all comments received will be publicly posted at http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-cctld-fast-track/.

For more information, visit http://www.icann.org/public_comment/public-comment-200808.html#final-idnc-wg.