Changes

On January 5, 2012, Cong. Greg Walden, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Communications and Technology sent a letter to ICANN requesting answers to the questions of some members of the sub-committee on some issues related to the new gTLD program including:<ref>[[http://www.icann.org/en/correspondence/pritz-to-walden-20jan12-en.pdf ICANN's Response to Cong. Greg Walden]</ref>

On January 5, 2012, Cong. Greg Walden, Chairman of the House Sub-Committee on Communications and Technology sent a letter to ICANN requesting answers to the questions of some members of the sub-committee on some issues related to the new gTLD program including:<ref>[[http://www.icann.org/en/correspondence/pritz-to-walden-20jan12-en.pdf ICANN's Response to Cong. Greg Walden]</ref>

* '''Process used by ICANN in achieving consensus through the [[Multistakeholder Model|multistakeholder''' model]] ICANN explained that consensus was achieved through community-driven policy development processes wherein working teams composed of members of the different internet stakeholders developed reports and recommendations and the public were given the opportunity to comment. The public comments were considered in drafting the final report and recommendations before submitting it to the appropriate organization within ICANN such as the [[GNSO]] Council, which is responsible presenting it to the ICANN Board for consideration. ICANN emphasized that the GNSO Council is composed of all internet stakeholders and voted 19-1 in favor of the new gTLD policy. The internet governing body also pointed out that ICANN's Advisory Committee's ([[GAC]], [[ALAC]], [[SSAC]], [[RSSAC]] etc.) were involved in the cosensus policy development.ICANN reiterated the statement of Sec. [[Lawrence Strickling|Larry Strickling]] that the ICANN ''"multistakeholder does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.But it is critical to preserving the model of internet governance that has been so successful to date that all parties respect and work through the process and accept the outcome once a decision is reached..."''

* '''Process used by ICANN in achieving consensus through the [[Multistakeholder Model|multistakeholder''' model]] ICANN explained that consensus was achieved through community-driven policy development processes wherein working teams composed of members of the different internet stakeholders developed reports and recommendations and the public were given the opportunity to comment. The public comments were considered in drafting the final report and recommendations before submitting it to the appropriate organization within ICANN such as the [[GNSO]] Council, which is responsible presenting it to the ICANN Board for consideration. ICANN emphasized that the GNSO Council is composed of all internet stakeholders and voted 19-1 in favor of the new gTLD policy. The internet governing body also pointed out that ICANN's Advisory Committee's ([[GAC]], [[ALAC]], [[SSAC]], [[RSSAC]] etc.) were involved in the cosensus policy development.ICANN reiterated the statement of Sec. [[Lawrence Strickling|Larry Strickling]] that the ICANN ''"multistakeholder does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.But it is critical to preserving the model of internet governance that has been so successful to date that all parties respect and work through the process and accept the outcome once a decision is reached..."''

* '''Rights protection mechanisms'''

* '''Rights Protection Mechanisms'''

ICANN informed the Congress that rights protection mechanisms will be implemented according to the project plan included in the [[Applicant Guidebook]]. Rights protection will be implemented in the first and second level domain names. The internet governing body mentioned the development of the Trademark Clearing House as one of the rights protection mechanisms and it is mandatory to all new TLDs.

ICANN informed the Congress that rights protection mechanisms will be implemented according to the project plan included in the [[Applicant Guidebook]]. Rights protection will be implemented in the first and second level domain names. The internet governing body mentioned the development of the Trademark Clearing House as one of the rights protection mechanisms and it is mandatory to all new TLDs.

* '''Request for a second round of application'''

* '''Request for a Second Round of Application'''

ICANN stated that it is committed in conducting additional rounds of new gTLD applications and it is working on determining the next schedule.

ICANN stated that it is committed in conducting additional rounds of new gTLD applications and it is working on determining the next schedule.

* '''Transparency regarding surplus funds generated from the new gTLD applications'''

* '''Transparency regarding Surplus Funds generated from the new gTLD applications'''

ICANN emphasized that it is committed in using the excess funds generated from the new gTLD applications to advance its missions in a transparent way such as allocating funds to projects that are of interest to the greater internet community.

ICANN emphasized that it is committed in using the excess funds generated from the new gTLD applications to advance its missions in a transparent way such as allocating funds to projects that are of interest to the greater internet community.

* '''Bilateral negotiations with registrars about the twelve Law Enforcement Due Diligence Recommendations'''

* '''Bilateral Negotiations with registrars about the twelve Law Enforcement Due Diligence Recommendations'''

ICANN confirmed that it is conducting negotiations with its accredited registrars regarding the 12 recommendations of the enforcement agencies. Updates to the negotiation are available [https://community.icann.org/display/RAA/Negotiations+Between+ICANN+and+Registrars+to+Amend+the+Registrar+Accreditation+Agreement '''here''']

ICANN confirmed that it is conducting negotiations with its accredited registrars regarding the 12 recommendations of the enforcement agencies. Updates to the negotiation are available [https://community.icann.org/display/RAA/Negotiations+Between+ICANN+and+Registrars+to+Amend+the+Registrar+Accreditation+Agreement '''here''']

* '''Contingency Plan in case a registry operator goes out of business'''

* '''Contingency Plan in case a registry operator goes out of business'''