View source for European Broadcasting Union

==.radio==
Four companies have applied for the [[new gTLD]] [[.radio]]: the EBU, [[BRS Media]], [[Tin Dale|Tin Dale LLC]], and [[Afilias]].

In July 2012, BRS Media chairman and CEO [[George Bundy]] sent a letter to [[Heather Dryden]], head of the [[GAC|Governmental Advisory Committee]] (GAC). He noted a conflict of interest in EBU's application for .radio, as the organization was at that time requesting to become a member of [[GAC]], and requested that EBU withdraw its application.<ref name="radioworld-1">[http://www.radioworld.com/article/the-battle-for-dot-radio-part-i/214661 The Battle for Dot-Radio: Part I], RadioWorld.com. Published 27 July 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/9732-radio-applicant-slams-gac-conflict-of-interest Radio Applicant Slams GAC Conflict of Interest], DomainIncite.com. Published 11 July 2012.</ref> The EBU went on to be accepted into the GAC,<ref name="ebugac">[http://radioforward.com/ebugac/ European Broadcast Union & Governmental Advisory Committee], RadioForward.com.</ref> and the acceptance notice can be seen [https://gacweb.icann.org/download/attachments/4817665/FINAL_GAC_Communique_20120628.pdf here].

EBU published a statement prior to receiving BRS Media's letter that clarified and defended their position, stating, "The EBU represents the interests of the global radio community and can be relied on to provide a secure namespace to facilitate and speed the radio industry's digital, online evolution. Our responsibility is to every member of the radio community – not only the financially able or best equipped and to provide protection against cyber squatting or competing interests, who exploit commercial opportunities... It is not in the public interest to see (dot-radio) managed as a generic TLD by a non-radio stakeholder with commercial interests."<ref name="radioworld-1"></ref>

In an August 8th interview with Radio World, Bundy played down EBU's statement by saying that, "There is no advantage the EBU has with regards to 'nonprofit' in running a Top Level Domain. If you look at [[VeriSign]], a publicly trade for-profit corporation, running dot-com and at [[PIR]] (Public Interest Registry), a nonprofit corporation that operates dot-org, to the end user there is very little difference... with regards to price, polices and usage."<ref name="radioworld-2">[http://www.radioworld.com/article/battle-for-dot-radio-part-ii/214838 Battle for Dot-Radio: Part II], RadioWorld.com. Published 8 August 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.</ref>

According to ICANN rules, applicants that can prove a "community" designation -- those who operate its proposed new gTLD for the benefit of a 'clearly designated community' -- will receive "precedence for designation". If EBU can prove to ICANN's new gTLD review panel that it represents an entire community and does not lose the "community" designation due to challenges from other parties, it will be delegated the .radio TLD. Otherwise, .radio will be rewarded to the highest bidder through an [[gTLD Auction|auction process]].<ref name="radioworld-3">[http://www.rwonline.com/article/kleiman-us-radio-should-get-involved-in-%E2%80%98dot-radio-discussion/216383 Kleiman: U.S. Radio Should Get Involved in 'Dot-Radio' Discussion], RWOnline.com. Published 14 November 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.</ref>

Internet policy specialist [[Kathy Kleiman|Kathryn Kleiman]] believes taking into account the future of radio should be important. Her opinion is that, "BRS Media, Afilias and Tin Dale provide a more open platform for a range of new radio services that are developing now and in the future. It is a different version than the EBU application, which will allow registration of domain names to more traditional media, e.g., licensed broadcasters and licensed amateur radio clubs. An open discussion of visions of the future of radio online would be very timely right now."<ref name="radioworld-3"></ref>

Critics have cited EBU's own Code of Ethics, which contains a "Conflict of Interest" section, as supporting evidence that EBU should not be given an advantage for [[.radio]].<ref name="ebugac"></ref> The Code of Ethics can be seen [[http://www3.ebu.ch/files/live/sites/ebu/files/About/EBU%20Code%20of%20Ethics.pdf here]].