2008-10-01 - Single-Character Name Requests from DotCoop and dotMobi

Kurt Pritz and Patrick Jones introduced the proposed contract amendments from DotCoop and dotMobi for the allocation of single-character second-level domain names. They noted that single-character names had previously come before the Board during the 29 May and 31 July Board meetings. It was noted that since the July Board meeting, ICANN has completed public comment on the proposed contractual amendments. Both sponsored registries are seeking to allocate single-character second-level domain names via request for proposals processes for the benefit of their sponsored TLD communities. These are the only pending funnel requests related to single-character second-level domain names.

Patrick Jones noted that these requests were unique as they were sponsored TLDs, their agreements provide some deference in policy-making, and their proposals were consistent with the Single-Character Second-Level Domain Name Allocation Framework document, which recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach for allocation of single-characters may not work for all gTLD registries. He noted that the options before the Board were to approve the proposed contract amendments or in the alternative, defer action at this time until further work could be conducted on a bottom-up effort for allocation of single-character second-level domain names.

Patrick Jones stated that bottom-up process has occurred since January 2007 with the GNSO Reserved Names Working Group, which recommended that single-character second-level domain names be released, and that release should be contingent on appropriate allocation frameworks. He also mentioned that community consultation was conducted on two occasions on potential allocation methods and most recently on the single-character second-level allocation framework document. The DotCoop and dotMobi proposals did not receive any comments, but did receive nine comments of support during the Allocation Framework comment period.

Paul Twomey stated that ICANN had received comments from the community that ICANN explore alternative sources of revenue, and that this discussion was continuing. The Chairman asked if action on these proposals could be deferred, as he had concerns about how proceeds may be dealt with. This proposal was supported by Harald Alvestrand and Dennis Jennings. Paul Twomey asked how DotCoop and dotMobi proposed to handle allocation, and Patrick Jones responded that both proposed processes based on evaluation criteria, with a minimal fee for the RFP and no auction mechanism would be used.

The Board decided to defer action on the DotCoop and dotMobi amendments until the next available meeting for continued work from a group of gTLD registries and registrars, and called for the following resolution, which was seconded by Steve Goldstein:

It is, RESOLVED (2008.10.01.19), the Board defers action on these proposals pending a more thorough review of the communications and results of the bottom-up process and efforts of the working group on allocation of Single-Character, Second Level-Domains (SC-SLDs) relating to the gTLD registries.