Public Comment

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IDN Variant TLD Program – Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels

Comment/Reply Periods (*) Important Information Links
Comment Open: 24 September 2012
Comment Close: 19 October 2012
Close Time (UTC): 23:59 UTC Public Comment Announcement
Reply Open: Cancelled – No Comments To Submit Your Comments (Forum Closed)
Reply Close:   View Comments Submitted
Close Time (UTC):   Report of Public Comments
Brief Overview
Originating Organization: ICANN
Categories/Tags: Top-Level Domains
Purpose (Brief): To receive community feedback on the first public draft of the document "Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels".
Current Status: The IDN Variant TLD Program includes a project to establish the Label Generation Rules (LGR) Process for the DNS Root Zone. The project team was formed to include expert consultants and a global team of volunteers. The project team has created a first public draft document and seeks community comment and input on the proposed process and the principles that support it.
Next Steps: The Label Generation Rules process (LGR) Process will be discussed at the ICANN public meeting in Toronto in October 2012. Comments received in this forum as well as community feedback during the Toronto meeting will be incorporated into the final draft and published for second round of Public Comment in November 2012.
Staff Contact: Francisco Arias Email: francisco.arias@icann.org
Detailed Information
Section I: Description, Explanation, and Purpose

The IDN Variant TLD Program has been exploring the issues associated with the potential inclusion of IDN variant TLDs in the DNS root zone at the request of the ICANN Board and the community.

The Label Generation Rules Process is a way to develop and maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in respect of IDNA labels. This process must be in place to enable the delegation and management of IDN Variant TLDs. The Label Generation Rules (LGR) Process project team has produced the first public draft of the LGR Process document. The team now seeks community input on the process and the principles that support it.

The IDN Variant TLD Program follows on from the publication of the final Integrated Issues Report on 17 February 2012. The Program Plan was published after two rounds of public comment. The Label Generation Rules (LGR) Process project team was formed to include expert consultants and a global team of volunteers. After discussions on-line and a two-day face-to-face session, the project team has created the first public draft of the document on the Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels, and now seeks community input on the LGR process and the principles that support it.

Section II: Background

On 20 April 2011, ICANN announced the IDN Variant Issues Project to explore the issues associated with the potential inclusion of IDN variant TLDs in the DNS root zone. This project was initiated in response to a 2010 ICANN Board of Directors resolution. The project completed with the publication of the final Integrated Issues Report on 17 February 2012.

The IDN Variant TLD Program follows on from that work. The Program consists of several projects, and continues as a multi-phase multi-year program. The Program Plan was announced – after substantial public input and comment – on 23 August 2012.

One of the first projects in the new program is to develop the Label Generation Rules (LGR) Process for the DNS Root Zone. The approach taken was to form a project team of expert consultants supported by a global group of volunteers representing multiple scripts and languages. The formation of the volunteer group was announced on 23 August 2012.

The project team has had several discussions on-line and by telephone conference, and held a two-day face-to-face session in August. The project team has created its first public draft document on the Procedure to Develop and Maintain the Label Generation Rules for the Root Zone in Respect of IDNA Labels, and now seeks community input and comment.

Section III: Document and Resource Links
Section IV: Additional Information
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(*) Comments submitted after the posted Close Date/Time are not guaranteed to be considered in any final summary, analysis, reporting, or decision-making that takes place once this period lapses.