<table class="convey"><tbody><tr style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(0, 51, 102); color: rgb(255, 255, 255); vertical-align: middle;"><td colspan="5" style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Expanding Developing Economies Participation in the New gTLD Program</td>

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                <td colspan="2" style="text-align: left; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Comment Period</td>
                <td colspan="3" rowspan="2" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Important Information Links</td>
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                <td class="light" style="width: 13%;"><strong>Open Date:</strong></td>
                <td style="width: 19%; text-align: center;">10 June 2011</td>
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                <td class="light"><strong>Close Date:</strong></td>
                <td style="text-align: center;">29 July 2011</td>
                <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-10jun11-en.htm">Public Comment Announcement</a></td>
                <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:second-milestone-report@icann.org">To Submit Your Comments (Forum)</a></td>
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                <td class="light"><strong>Time (UTC):</strong></td>
                <td style="text-align: center;">24:00</td>
                <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/second-milestone-report/">View Comments Submitted</a></td>
                <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">Report of Public Comments</td>
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                <td colspan="2" class="light" style="vertical-align: middle;"><strong>Originating Organization:</strong></td>
                <td colspan="3">ICANN Board</td>
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                <td colspan="2" class="light" style="vertical-align: middle;"><strong>Purpose:</strong></td>
                <td colspan="3"><p>Public comment is requested concerning the <strong><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/jas-second-milestone-report-09may11-en.pdf">Second Milestone Report</a></strong> [PDF, 282 KB], which deals with a very important issue: <em>How
 can ICANN assist applicants from developing economies increase their 
participation in the New generic Top-Level Domain (New gTLD) Program?</em></p>
                        <p>The Report offers recommendations on how ICANN should develop a 
sustainable approach to providing support to applicants from developing 
economies requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs 
Registries under the New gTLD Program. The Report proposes initial 
criteria for qualification as well as several other types of support for
 ICANN to consider. It has been approved by ALAC, one of the chartering 
organizations of the working group, but it has not yet been approved by 
the GNSO.</p></td>
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                <td colspan="2" class="light" style="vertical-align: middle;"><strong>Current Status:</strong></td>
                <td colspan="3"><p>The Second Milestone Report is a continuation of 
the work done by the Joint Applicant Support Working Group (JAS WG). The
 group is represented by ICANN community members who have been working 
together on this initiative since April 2010. The JAS WG was formed 
following a <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-12mar10-en.htm">Resolution</a> from ICANN Board of Directors in Nairobi, on March 2010 which asked ICANN&#39;s stakeholder community <em>&quot;...to
 develop a sustainable approach to providing support to applicants 
requiring assistance in applying for and operating new gTLDs.&quot;</em></p></td>
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                <td colspan="2" class="light" style="vertical-align: middle;"><strong>Next Steps:</strong></td>
                <td colspan="3"><p>The following activities are anticipated at the completion of the Public Comment Forum:</p>
                        <ul><li>The Board, Staff, Advisory Committees and Supporting 
Organizations will review the Second Milestone Report and public 
comments received.</li><li>Commentary received regarding the JAS from within recent statements of the Governmental Advisory Committee will be addressed.</li><li>The Board, upon consideration of the Report and its commentary, 
may instruct the JAS and Staff to develop an implementation program 
based upon the Report and comments received.</li></ul></td>
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                <td colspan="2" class="light"><strong>Staff Contact:</strong></td>
                <td style="width: 34%;">Karla Valente</td>
                <td class="light" style="width: 5%;"><strong>Email:</strong></td>
                <td style="width: 29%;"><a href="mailto:karla.valente@icann.org?subject=More%20information%20on%20the%20Expanding%20Developing%20Economies%20Participation%20in%20the%20New%20gTLD%20Program%20public%20comment%20period">karla.valente@icann.org</a></td>

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