2010-03-12 - Principles for Handling Synchronized IDN ccTLDs for the Fast Track Process

Whereas, ICANN launched the IDN ccTLD Fast Track process on 16 November 2009 as set forth in the Board resolution of 30 October 2009;

Whereas, during the ICANN International Public Meeting in Sydney, Board members convened the Implementation Support Team to provide recommendations on how to manage IDN ccTLD strings;

Whereas, the Fast Track Final Implementation Plan states that the limitation on the number of IDN ccTLDs is one per official language or script per country, and defines the policy under which requests are processed;

Whereas, the Board, during the ICANN International Public Meeting in Nairobi, requested Harald Alvestrand and Ram Mohan to convene a working group, the Equivalent Strings Support Working Group (ES-WG) to address instances in the Fast Track Process where more than one official language or script exists within a country/territory, and where requests are for multiple corresponding strings that are considered equivalent, so that users of the community accessing domains under all versions of the string expect that each of them will resolve to the same address (hereafter referred to as “Synchronized IDN ccTLDs”).

Whereas, the ES-WG determined that developing a formal procedure to accept IDN ccTLD Fast Track requests for synchronized IDN ccTLD strings is appropriate and solves a real problem for the people in the community ICANN is seeking to serve by launching IDN ccTLDs;

Whereas, there appears to be general community consensus, and the ES-WG concurs, that any request for synchronized IDN ccTLD strings must solve a significant problem for the communities that use the scripts, to be confirmed with sufficient due diligence by Staff, the details to be defined in an ES Implementation Plan;

Whereas, the ES-WG notes that all existing Fast Track requirements and rules apply for string selection and validation of the synchronized IDN ccTLD strings, and that DNS security and stability, as well as usability concerns, must be taken into account;

Whereas, the ES-WG recommends that requests for synchronized IDN ccTLD strings must be accompanied by adequate and verifiable procedures to enable convergence at every level of the domain named by the TLD following criteria established in the ES Implementation Plan, and to take immediate steps to remove any divergence should it occur; and

Whereas, the ES-WG recommends that if an improved technical standard for the delegation and management of Synchronized IDN ccTLDs is arrived at, and is applicable for such delegations, IDN ccTLD managers should migrate to that standard in a safe, stable and timely manner.

Resolved (2010.03.12.37), that pursuant to the ES-WG recommendations, the Board approves the principles identified above for the evaluation of synchronized IDN ccTLDs for the Fast Track Process.

Resolved (2010.03.12.38), the CEO is directed to have prepared an ES Implementation Plan for the Fast Track evaluation of synchronized IDN ccTLDs using the ES-WG's principles as a framework.