2009-10-30 - Final Implementation Plan for IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process

Whereas, IDNs have been available for second and lower level domain name registrations for years and under the IDNA protocol since 2003;

Whereas, the community has been discussing and working on introduction of IDNs as top-level domains based on the experiences gained during the second and lower level introductions;

Whereas, the ccNSO and the GAC were asked < http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-08dec06.htm - _Toc27198296 > in December 2006 during the Sao Paulo meeting to "...through a joint collaborative effort, in consultation as needed with the relevant technical community, to produce an issues paper relating to the selection of IDN ccTLDs associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes.";

Whereas, the ccNSO and the GAC formed a joint working group (IDNC WG) that published and submitted to the Board a list of issues < http://ccnso.icann.org/workinggroups/final-draft-issues-idn-cctlds-iso-26jun07.pdf > relating to the introduction of IDN ccTLDs associated with the ISO3166-1 two-letter codes, in June 2007. Which resulted in the Board requesting "... that that the ICANN community including the GNSO, ccNSO, GAC, and ALAC provide the Board with responses to the published list of issues and questions that need to be addressed in order to move forward with IDN ccTLDs associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes in a manner that ensures the continued security and stability of the Internet.";

Whereas, members were appointed to the IDNC WG following the Board request, and initiated their work, which resulted in the IDNC Final Report which was provided to the ICANN Board at its meeting in Paris, France, June 2008;

Whereas, The ICANN Board approved < http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/resolutions-26jun08.htm > the IDNC final report < http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-26jun08-en.htm > for fast-track IDN ccTLDs, at the Paris meeting and directed staff to initiate the implementation of the IDNC recommendations;

Whereas, ICANN in October 2008 sought expressions of interest about participation in the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process to inform the implementation of the IDNC WG Final report; and received 74 responses, with 31 interested in participating in the Fast Track Process, representing a total of 15 different languages;

Whereas, ICANN in October 2008 published the first Draft Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD fast Track process for public comments; the first revision of the plan in November 2008; the second revision in February 2009; the third revision in May 2009; and the Proposed Final Implementation Plan in September 2009;

Resolved (2009.10.30.10), the ICANN Board sincerely thanks all participants for their hard work towards making IDN TLDs become a reality through the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process;

Resolved (2009.10.30.11), the ICANN Board directs staff to launch the IDN ccTLD Fast Track process as detailed in the Proposed Final Implementation Plan, beginning at 00:00 UTC on 16 November 2009;

Resolved (2009.10.30.12), the ICANN Board directs staff to monitor the operation of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track process at regular intervals to ensure its smooth operation, and, subject to Board review, update the process when new technology or policies become available, with the goal to efficiently meet the needs of Fast Track process requesters, and to best meet the needs of the global Internet community.