Changes

===Comments on the New gTLD Expansion Program===

===Comments on the New gTLD Expansion Program===

During the 29th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Conference on December 8, 2011, Stricling reiterated the commitment of the United States government on the multi-stakeholder governance policy of the internet. In his speech, he emphasized that [[NTIA]] had been '''"active in promoting the multi-stakeholder model in the international arena through its work at ICANN and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ([[OECD]])."''' According to him, the multi-stakeholder process promotes a wider, more creative problem solving, speedier and more flexible decision-making compared with traditional, top down regulatory models. However, he pointed out that the multi-stakeholder process is challenged by other countries pushing for the internet to be governed under a treaty. He cited ICANN’s latest multi-stakeholder process regarding the introduction of new gTLDs scheduled to take effect on January 2012 as an example. He pointed out the NTIA along with the global internet stakeholders from business sector, civil society, registries, registrars and governments worked together to ensure that ICANN was able to properly address all issues and concern during the six years process before approving implementing the new [[gTLD]] program. He also said that for the past two years, NTIA moved forward to improve ICANN’s accountability and transparency. Despite the collective efforts and agreements of stakeholders worldwide, there are organizations that are not happy with the result of the multi-stakeholder process and they are trying to convince NTIA to stop or postpone the implementation of the new gTLD Program. Strickling acknowledged the reality of '''"the multi-stakeholder process does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome."''' One of the organizations vigilant in criticizing ICANN’s implementation of the new gTLD program is the [[Association of National Advertisers|ANA]], which managed to asked the Senate Committee on Commerce to investigate the issue. Strickling said, '''"When parties ask us to overturn the outcomes of these processes, no matter how well-intentioned the request, they are providing “ammunition” to other countries who attempt to justify their unilateral actions to deny their citizens the free flow of information on the Internet."''' He strongly expressed that NTIA will not overturn ICANN’s decision because the stake involved is huge. <ref>

During the 29th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Conference on December 8, 2011, Strickling reiterated the commitment of the United States government to the multi-stakeholder governance of the Internet. In his speech, he emphasized that [[NTIA]] had been '''"active in promoting the multi-stakeholder model in the international arena through its work at ICANN and the [[OECD|Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development]] (OECD)."''' According to him, the multi-stakeholder process promotes wider, more creative problem solving, speedier and more flexible decision-making compared with traditional, top down regulatory models. However, he pointed out that the multi-stakeholder process is challenged by other countries pushing for the Internet to be governed under a treaty. He cited ICANN’s latest multi-stakeholder process regarding the introduction of new gTLDs scheduled to take effect on January, 2012, as an example. He pointed out that NTIA, along with global Internet stakeholders from the business sector, civil society, [[Registry|registries]], [[Registrar|registrars]], and governments worked together to ensure that ICANN was able to properly address all issues and concern during the six years process before approving the new [[gTLD]] program. He also said that for the past two years, NTIA moved to improve ICANN’s accountability and transparency. Despite the collective efforts and agreements of stakeholders worldwide, there are organizations that are not happy with the result of the multi-stakeholder process and they are trying to convince NTIA to stop or postpone the implementation of the new gTLD Program. Strickling acknowledged the reality that the '''"the multi-stakeholder process does not guarantee that everyone will be satisfied with the outcome."''' One of the organizations vigilant in criticizing ICANN’s implementation of the new gTLD program is the [[Association of National Advertisers|ANA]], which managed to asked the Senate Committee on Commerce to investigate the issue. Strickling said, '''"When parties ask us to overturn the outcomes of these processes, no matter how well-intentioned the request, they are providing “ammunition” to other countries who attempt to justify their unilateral actions to deny their citizens the free flow of information on the Internet."''' He strongly expressed that NTIA will not overturn ICANN’s decision because the stakes are too high.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/speechtestimony/2011/remarks-assistant-secretary-strickling-practising-law-institutes-29th-annual-te Remarks of Assistant Secretary Strickling at the Practising Law Institute's 29th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Conference, December 8, 2011]</ref><ref>[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/12/u-s-government-strongly-affirms-icann-model-and-new-gtlds/ U.S. Government Strongly Affirms ICANN Model and New gTLDs; Dec. 9, 2011]</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/us-says-it-will-not-block-the-new-gtld-program/ US says it will not block the new gTLD program]</ref><ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/12/09/ntia-saves-icann-bacon US government saves ICANN's bacon]</ref>

[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/speechtestimony/2011/remarks-assistant-secretary-strickling-practising-law-institutes-29th-annual-te Remarks of Assistant Secretary Strickling at the Practising Law Institute's 29th Annual Telecommunications Policy & Regulation Conference, December 8, 2011]</ref> <ref>

[http://www.mindsandmachines.com/2011/12/u-s-government-strongly-affirms-icann-model-and-new-gtlds/ U.S. Government Strongly Affirms ICANN Model and New gTLDs; Dec. 9, 2011]</ref> <ref>

[http://domainincite.com/us-says-it-will-not-block-the-new-gtld-program/ US says it will not block the new gTLD program]</ref>

<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/12/09/ntia-saves-icann-bacon US government saves ICANN's bacon]</ref>

In January, 2012, Mr. Strickling wrote to ICANN following multiple recent [[gTLD#New_gTLD_Senate_and_House_of_Representatives_Hearings|hearings in the U.S. Congress]] regarding ICANN's new gTLD program; this was a time of widespread concern on behalf of poorly-informed trademark owners, and also calls for the delay or cancellation of the program by trademark lobby groups [[CRIDO]] and [[CADNA]]. What little media attention the program received was almost wholly negative, including Op-eds in the New York Times<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/expanding-internet-domains.html?_r=4&ref=internetcorpforassignednamesandnumbers Expanding Internet Domains, NYTimes.com]</ref> and Wall Street Journal.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whats-the-rush/2011/12/09/gIQA5Ms9nO_story.html Whats the Rush, WashingtonPost.com]</ref> In his letter, addressed to [[ICANN Chairman|Chairman]] [[Steve Crocker]], Mr. Strickling urged ICANN to more successfully showcase their new gTLD expansion program, and especially emphasize the number of built-in protections for trademark owners.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>  

In January, 2012, Mr. Strickling wrote to ICANN following recent [[gTLD#New_gTLD_Senate_and_House_of_Representatives_Hearings|hearings in the U.S. Congress]] regarding ICANN's new gTLD program; this was a time of widespread concern on behalf of poorly-informed trademark owners, and also calls for the delay or cancellation of the program by trademark lobby groups [[CRIDO]], [[CADNA]], and [[ANA]]. What little media attention the program received was almost wholly negative, including Op-eds in the New York Times<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/opinion/expanding-internet-domains.html?_r=4&ref=internetcorpforassignednamesandnumbers Expanding Internet Domains, NYTimes.com]</ref> and Wall Street Journal.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/whats-the-rush/2011/12/09/gIQA5Ms9nO_story.html Whats the Rush, WashingtonPost.com]</ref> In his letter, addressed to [[ICANN Chairman|Chairman]] [[Steve Crocker]], Mr. Strickling urged ICANN to more successfully showcase their new gTLD expansion program, and especially emphasize the number of built-in protections for trademark owners.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>  

Mr. Strickling notes that NTIA has no plan or desire to actually interfere in the process after the 6 years of work and the imminent launch, but he does lament the number of problems that have been created largely by [[ICANN]]'s poor outreach and education. NTIA identified 3 specific things to address: to educate trademark owners about measures in place allowing them to forego [[Defensive Registration|defensive registrations]]; to immediately implement consumer protections it has already devised; and to generally better educate all stakeholders. However, NTIA did suggest and open up the possibility of adding further protections once the application pool is closed and NTIA, alongside [[ICANN]]'s [[GAC]], had a chance to review the pool of applicants and reflect on what further steps could  be taken in the [[SLD|second level]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>  

Mr. Strickling notes that NTIA has no plan or desire to actually interfere in the process after the 6 years of work and the imminent launch, but he does lament the number of problems that have been created largely by [[ICANN]]'s poor outreach and education. NTIA identified 3 specific things to address: to educate trademark owners about measures in place allowing them to forego [[Defensive Registration|defensive registrations]]; to immediately implement consumer protections it has already devised; and to generally better educate all stakeholders. However, NTIA did suggest and open up the possibility of adding further protections once the application pool is closed and NTIA, alongside [[ICANN]]'s [[GAC]], had a chance to review the pool of applicants and reflect on what further steps could  be taken in the [[SLD|second level]].<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/ntia_letter_on_gtld_program_jan_3_2012.pdf NTIA Letter on gTLD Program Jan 3 2012, ntia.doc.gov]</ref>