ICANN Announcements

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ICANN is Seeking Independent Researchers to Respond to Request for Proposal on WHOIS Proxy/Privacy Relay and Reveal Studies

29 September 2010

The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies relating to gTLDs. The GNSO Council is now exploring several extensive studies of WHOIS and has asked ICANN to estimate the cost and feasibility of conducting several studies proposed by members of the ICANN community and ICANN’s Government Advisory Committee. This area of study will analyze a sample of "relay" and "reveal" requests sent for Proxy/Privacy-registered domain names to document how they are processed and identify factors that may promote or impede timely communication and resolution. ICANN is now seeking to engage independent research organizations to undertake this study. The WHOIS Proxy/Privacy Relay and Reveal studies RFP Cover Letter [PDF, 84 KB] illustrates the scope of work and the criteria for selection. This document should be read in conjunction with the Terms of Reference for the WHOIS Proxy/Privacy Relay and Reveal studies RFP [PDF, 292 KB]. Read together, these two documents provide the materials necessary to respond to this Request for Proposals ("RFP") for WHOIS Proxy/Privacy Relay and Reveal Studies.

More information about WHOIS may be found at: http://gnso.icann.org/issues/whois/

By 30 November, 2010, interested applicants should submit proposals by email to rfpwhois@icann.org to the attention of Liz Gasster, Senior Policy Counselor, ICANN Policy Department. A confirmation email will be sent for each proposal received.