[AfrICANN-discuss] [Fwd: Questions on the Introduction of ccTLD Internationalised Domain Names]

[Mohammed EL Bashir]

Dear All,

FYI ccNSO is asking for input from ccTLD Registries on considering  Fast 
Track/Interim approach for the launch of IDNs on Global DNS, this could 
happen while IDNs policy development process continue .

Can you please encourage your ccTLD Registries to respond and comment on 
the issue .

Regards,
Mohamed EL Bashir
.SD Registry - ccNSO Council

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Questions on the Introduction of ccTLD Internationalised 
Domain Names
Date: 	Fri, 5 Oct 2007 16:12:30 +0200
From: 	Gabriella Schittek <gabriella.schittek at icann.org>
Reply-To: 	<gabriella.schittek at icann.org>
To: 	<admin at isoc.sd>, <tech at isoc.sd>



Dear ccTLD Manager,

Below you will find a letter from the ccNSO Chair Chris Disspain.

Please, reply to ccnsosecretariat at icann.org or directly to Chris at
ceo at auda.org.au.

Kind regards,

Gabriella Schittek / ccNSO Secretariat

---


Dear ccTLD Manager,

I am writing to you, in my capacity as Chairman of the Country Code Names
Supporting Organisation (ccNSO), about the introduction of ccTLD
Internationalised Domain Names (IDN ccTLDs). The input I am requesting from
you is very important and your response will be much appreciated.

At the end of this email is a Background and References section that
provides some background information and links to various documents.

Based on work done by the ccNSO and discussions amongst ccTLD managers in
all regions the ccNSO has taken the first step to launching a Policy
Development Process to set the overall policy for IDN ccTLDs.

At this stage, the ccNSO is also discussing whether or not to recommend that
the ICANN Board consider a fast track/interim approach under which some IDN
ccTLDs could be delegated while the overall policy is being developed. To
help with those discussions we need to find out the level of interest in
your territory and that is why I am writing to you.

While community feedback has encouraged the ccNSO to explore levels of
interest in a fast-track/interim approach to IDN ccTLDs, this is the first
of many steps that would have to be carefully and successfully taken towards
that end and it is generally accepted that any implementation would have to
be in compliance with current policies and procedures. Some of these that
may be relevant are set out in the Background and References section below.

I would be grateful if you would answer the following questions:

1. Do you believe that the local community in your territory has a pressing
need for an IDN ccTLD?
2. If so, is there yet agreement in your territory on the scripts and the
string within the script(s) for which delegation of an IDN ccTLD would be
sought, and could you indicate which strings and scripts are of interest?
3. Do you believe the delegation of an IDN ccTLD under a fast track/interim
approach would be of interest to your community?

The fast track/interim approach will be discussed by ccTLD managers at the
ICANN meeting in Los Angeles. So, it would be most helpful if you could
respond by 26 October 2007.


Background and References

In the Domain Name System, a ccTLD string (like .jp, .uk) has been defined
to represent the name of a country, territory or area of geographical
interest, and its subdivisions as identified in ISO 3166-1, and is
represented by 2 US-ASCII characters
(http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes/iso_3166_code_lists/english_country_na
mes_and_code_elements.htm). 
This method of identification was adopted for use in the Internet through
RFC 920, dated October 1984, and reaffirmed through RFC 1591, dated March
1994. All ccTLDs in use today are taken directly from the ISO 3166-1 list or
from the list of exceptionally reserved code elements defined by the ISO
3166 Maintenance Agency.

The implementation of IDN ccTLDs introduces the (apparent) use of characters
outside the US-ASCII character set (for example characters in Cyrillic,
Chinese, Arabic, and other scripts) for domain name strings.

In initial discussions by the ccNSO members, other ccTLD managers and
ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) a number of policy questions
were identified and a "Questions and Issues Paper" was submitted to the
ICANN Board of Directors
(http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/ccnso-gac-issues-report-on-idn-09jul07.pdf)
. 
It became clear that the development of the required policy for IDN ccTLDs
to resolve the issues raised was likely to take a minimum of 2 years. It
also became clear that such a time frame was a major concern for a number of
ccTLD managers who have expressed there is a pressing need for an IDN ccTLD
in their territory. Because of this, the concept of a fast track/interim
approach began to be discussed. In those discussions it was thought that it
might be possible to find a method to allow the introduction of a limited
number of IDN ccTLDs while the overall policy was being developed.

Policies and procedures that may be relevant to the delegation of an IDN
ccTLD under a fast track/interim approach include:

the IDNA protocol standards
(http://icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-11may07.htm);
RFC 3454 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3454.txt);
RFC 3490  (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3490);
RFC 3491 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3491.txt);
RFC 3492 (http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3492.txt);
RFC 1591 and associated procedures for delegation of a country code top
level domain (http://www.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1591.txt)
The GAC principles http://gac.icann.org/web/home/ccTLD_Principles.rtf.

Following consideration of the "Questions and Issues Paper", and statements
of the GAC and ccTLD managers on a fast track/interim approach the ICANN
Board has requested the ccNSO to explore both an interim and an overall
approach to IDN ccTLDs associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes and
to recommend a course of action to the Board taking the technical
limitations and requirements into consideration
http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm#m.

At its meeting on 2 October 2007, the ccNSO Council launched a Policy
Development Process (ccPDP) by requesting a PDP Issues Report and appointing
an Issues Manager. This ccPDP has been launched to develop an overall
approach, which includes finding solutions for the matters raised in the
"Questions and Issues Paper".



-- 

Best Regards,


Mohamed El Bashir

President, Sudan Internet Society 

.SD Domain Name Registry


Vice President, Communications & Out-Reach "African Top Level Domains 
Organization-AfTLD"

ICANN ccNSO Council Member


Personal Web : www.mbash.net


""Life lies not in never falling, but in rising when you fall." Nelson 
Mandela 1995, Easten Cape.

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