C27. Describe each Registry Service (as defined in subsection 1.16 of the model .org Registry Agreement) that you propose to provide without charging a fee.

Core Services

In addition to the “Registry Services” provided for the basic registry fee, as described in C25, the DotOrg Foundation will provide at no extra charge certain services, which while not listed in Section 1.16 of the model .org Registry Agreement, are important to the registry.  Although many of these services fall outside the definition of “Registry Function” or “Registry Service,” due to their importance in the registration process, they are detailed here.

Customer Service – Per a contract with the DotOrg Foundation, Registry Advantage will provide registrars with 24/7 technical support, and will provide general customer support within normal business hours.  The Customer Service Center will be available via telephone, e-mail and the World Wide Web at all times.  Details of the .org customer service plan are provided in Question C17.11.

Registrar Toolkit (RTK) – All accredited registrars will have access to the toolkit, which will provide them with the details about the registration process, software and documentation needed to connect to the registry’s systems. 

Test Environment, Support and Training (TEST) – All accredited registrars will have access to the TEST environment to allow them to evaluate the success of their software, test the functionality of the registry’s systems, train their staff, or otherwise interact with a fully functional SRS system that does not result in live registration data being modified.  The TEST environment is described in further detail in Question C21.

Thick Registry Migration – The registry will offer a phased migration to thick registry operations.  This involves providing a more capable SRS, enhancing the Whois service, and working with registrars to move a thick data set into the registry’s database.  Details of this migration process are provided in Question C22.

Reporting Services – Registrars will have the ability to generate reports relating to billing history, specific transactions performed in a given time period, complete history of a specified object within the registry, as well as listing the registry objects currently sponsored by the registrar.  Reporting services will be made available through the Account Management Interface; some reports will be generated periodically and distributed by mechanisms such as FTP, HTTP or e-mail.

Compliance Capabilities – Registry Advantage would offer registrars the capability to comply with the data-related requirements imposed by ICANN and their various jurisdictions.

DotOrg Foundation Website – The DotOrg Foundation’s website will provide the Internet community with information about the registry, its policies, and links to accredited registrars.  Additionally, a web-based interface to the Whois service will be made available as part of the website.

Other Information Services – The DotOrg Foundation will provide other information services, such as discussion lists among registrars, to facilitate communication with registrars and the Internet community, where appropriate.

Optional and Future Services included in the Registry Fee

In addition to the core services above and the registry services listed in C25, the DotOrg Foundation would provide optional services with each domain name without charging an additional fee.  Although these services are not “Registry Service,” they are described in answer to this question because they are available for free with every domain name.

DotOrg Directory

A major focus of the DotOrg Foundation’s enhancement of the .org TLD is to create an environment in which Internet users worldwide can easily and securely gain access to information about noncommercial websites and noncommercial websites can easily communicate information about their organizations and activities to potential donors, volunteers, etc.  The result is that the DotOrg Directory will foster greater confidence among donors, participants, members, and consumers participating in ePhilanthropy.  With greater confidence in and use of the Internet, more noncommercial organizations will register .org domain names.

Toward this end, the DotOrg Foundation will include in the basic registration package an optional service, the DotOrg Directory, a globally accessible and searchable database containing information about .org noncommercial registrants beyond the information currently collected by the Whois.  Such information would include the organization’s mission, funding sources or public tax records, among other relevant data. Providing this data will be at each .org registrant’s option. 

DotOrg Directory Key Components

• The Directory will be a compilation of DotOrg Records on every noncommercial registrant opting to participate in the Directory.  Each Record will contain data fields in addition to the information in the thick Whois database. 
• Such information may be collected at the time of the domain name registration, or at any time during the registration term.
• The information will be collected via registrars or, in some cases, directly via the validators. 
• The additional fields will be available to registrars and registrants at their option.  Registrars will choose whether or not to include these fields in the registration form provided to the registrants.  This will be done through the registry-registrar toolkit at no extra charge or effort to registrars.  Registrants will choose whether or not to provide the additional information.
• The DotOrg Record may be updated by the registrant using a secure interface.
• Those Registrants taking advantage of the DotOrg Directory will be required to maintain up-to-date, accurate Records.  The DotOrg Foundation will have the right to suspend or cancel any Record upon notification of inaccurate information.  Periodic reviews of the Directory for accuracy may be conducted. 

Altogether these measures will help ensure an accurate, trusted source of information for Internet noncommercial activities.

The DotOrg Directory is designed to make it easy for any worldwide user to find information related to the nonprofit or noncommercial organization from multiple access points, including:

1)   The DotOrg Foundation website, which will provide users with an easy search function to find the DotOrg Record;

2)   Via an HTML link provided within the Whois database; and

3)   Directly from the registrant’s website via a “GotOrg?” HTML link.  Each registrant may choose whether or not to post the “GotOrg?” link on its website.  The “GotOrg?” link enables consumers to gain “1-click” access to the website’s DotOrg Record and associated data.  Use of the “GotOrg?” Emblem is optional, but highly recommended – to help nonprofit and noncommercial organizations establish a higher level of trust from their constituencies. 

The “GotOrg?” Emblem may be replaced with a “validation” DotOrg Seal if the registrant becomes validated. Otherwise, the DotOrg Record will clearly state “No Third Party Authentication/Validation Currently Available.” 

DotOrg Directory Process

• Organization visits a Registrar to purchase a .org domain name.
• Organization finds available domain name to purchase and fills out registration form (Whois information).
• Registration form collects standard Whois information, plus additional optional noncommercial fields. [Optional Fields]
• Registration data is sent to reside in the Whois Database (basic contact plus link to Directory) and DotOrg Directory (all data from Whois Database).
• Organization may return to Registrar website to update its registry data record at any time (userid/password protected).
• Organization receives a “GotOrg?” logo and HTML link for posting on their website. [Optional Posting]

Optional Fields

The following is a snapshot of the optional fields currently planned for inclusion into the DotOrg Directory Record. The actual record would also contain the standard Whois data about the domain name holder. Please note that the fields identified below are subject to change based on feedback from and market research on the noncommercial sector conducted prior to launching the DotOrg Directory.

Figure C27.1 DotOrg Directory Optional Fields

Data Sharing and Data Privacy

Since the DotOrg registrars’ collection of data on noncommercial organizations will be completely optional. It will be up to the registrants to complete as much of the information as they wish, so privacy concerns should be minimized.

The DotOrg Foundation anticipates that the value of the DotOrg Directory to noncommercial community will encourage these entities (even those registered in other TLDs) to register a .org domain and provide up-to-date information to a single, trusted and easily accessible source, the DotOrg Directory.