2000-09-25 - Delegation of ccTLDs

Whereas, the participants in the ICANN process have for many months been engaged in discussions regarding the appropriate relationships among organizations operating ccTLDs, the relevant governments or public authorities, and ICANN, this topic having been discussed in detail in connection with the ICANN meetings in March 2000 in Cairo and in July 2000 in Yokohama;

Whereas, at the Cairo meeting the Board authorized (in Resolution 00.13) the President and staff to work with the ccTLD organizations, Governmental Advisory Committee, and other interested parties to prepare draft language for contracts, policy statements, and/or communications embodying these relationships;

Whereas, although the exact terms of the relationships are still under discussion, some progress has been made, and it is clear that ICANN and the ccTLD organizations should enter into agreements with each other describing their roles and responsibilities;

Whereas, ICANN has committed in its second status report under its Memorandum of Understanding with the United States Government and in Amendment 2 to that Memorandum of Understanding to continue its efforts to achieve stable agreements with the ccTLD organizations;

Whereas, the United States Government has indicated that completion of the transition of responsibilities for technical coordination of certain Internet functions from the United States to the private sector requires achievement of stable and appropriate agreements between ICANN and the ccTLD organizations;

Whereas, completion of the transition is a high priority and all reasonable efforts should therefore be devoted toward finalizing and entering appropriate and stable agreements with organizations operating ccTLDs;

Whereas, the IANA has received various applications for establishment of ccTLDs involving alpha-2 codes not on the ISO 3166-1 list but on the reserved list published by the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency;

Whereas, the IANA's practice on the delegability of such codes has varied from time to time in the past;

Whereas, the IANA staff has requested guidance as to the appropriate practice to follow regarding such codes;

It is therefore RESOLVED [00.74] that the IANA staff is advised that alpha-2 codes not on the ISO 3166-1 list are delegable as ccTLDs only in cases where the ISO 3166 Maintenance Agency, on its exceptional reservation list, has issued a reservation of the code that covers any application of ISO 3166-1 that needs a coded representation in the name of the country, territory, or area involved;

It is further RESOLVED [00.75] that in view of the state of ongoing discussions directed toward reaching stable and appropriate agreements between ICANN and the ccTLD organizations, delegation of additional ccTLDs should be finalized only upon achievement of stable and appropriate agreements between ICANN and the ccTLD organization, in a form approved by the Board.