Changes

In September, 2011, Rod Beckstrom was the Keynote Speaker at the Futurecom Information Technology Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There he praised [[CGI.br]], the organization in charge of the Brazilian [[ccTLD]] ([[.br]]), for being one of the only countries in the world to use a multi-stakeholder model to oversee its national Internet infrastructure. He also praised the organization for its work on [[IPv6]] deployment. He then went on to comment on the new [[gTLD]] program being launched by ICANN, and he discouraged brand owners and businesses from applying for a new domain space unless they are ready for the financial and technical responsibility of continually running a [[registry]]. He said, “I want to make clear that ICANN is an organization that is not advocating new gTLDs for anyone. Our role is merely facilitation to implement the policy and the programs approved by our community, so we are here to educate not to advocate.”<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/releases/release-12sep11-en.pdf ICANN News Release]</ref> Given that Mr. Beckstrom is often criticized for his high-profile and controversial role, this speech was no exception; one commentator noted how after all the work ICANN had undertaken to create the program, it seems like a terrible PR move to discourage people from applying.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/09/13/gtld-comms-masterplan gTLD Comms Masterplan, news.dot-nxt.com]</ref>

In September, 2011, Rod Beckstrom was the Keynote Speaker at the Futurecom Information Technology Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There he praised [[CGI.br]], the organization in charge of the Brazilian [[ccTLD]] ([[.br]]), for being one of the only countries in the world to use a multi-stakeholder model to oversee its national Internet infrastructure. He also praised the organization for its work on [[IPv6]] deployment. He then went on to comment on the new [[gTLD]] program being launched by ICANN, and he discouraged brand owners and businesses from applying for a new domain space unless they are ready for the financial and technical responsibility of continually running a [[registry]]. He said, “I want to make clear that ICANN is an organization that is not advocating new gTLDs for anyone. Our role is merely facilitation to implement the policy and the programs approved by our community, so we are here to educate not to advocate.”<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/releases/release-12sep11-en.pdf ICANN News Release]</ref> Given that Mr. Beckstrom is often criticized for his high-profile and controversial role, this speech was no exception; one commentator noted how after all the work ICANN had undertaken to create the program, it seems like a terrible PR move to discourage people from applying.<ref>[http://news.dot-nxt.com/2011/09/13/gtld-comms-masterplan gTLD Comms Masterplan, news.dot-nxt.com]</ref>

That stop in Brazil was the first stop in a larger global tour that Mr. Beckstrom undertook to spread awareness of new [[gTLD]]s and the implications for brands, individuals, and the future of the Internet.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-14sep11-en.htm Announcement, ICANN.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/releases/release-27sep11-en.pdf Sept.27, 11, ICANN.org]</ref> The ''gTLD Road Show'' lasted through the fall and winter of 2011, and Mr. Beckstrom visited a total of 16 countries on his promotional tour; an additional 22 countries were visited by ICANN staff and board members.<ref>[https://twitter.com/#!/RodBeckstrom/status/150262824977969152 Twitter Post, 12/23/11, Twitter.com]</ref> The Road Show was part of a [[ICANN Board|board]] mandated communications and outreach period.<ref>[http://blog.icann.org/2011/12/new-gtld-roadshows/ New gTLD Roadshows, Blog.ICANN.org]</ref>

That stop in Brazil was the first stop in a larger global tour that Mr. Beckstrom undertook to spread awareness of new [[gTLD]]s and the implications for brands, individuals, and the future of the Internet.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-3-14sep11-en.htm Announcement, ICANN.org]</ref><ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/releases/release-27sep11-en.pdf Sept.27, 11, ICANN.org]</ref> The '''gTLD Road Show''' lasted through the fall and winter of 2011, and Mr. Beckstrom visited a total of 16 countries on his promotional tour; an additional 22 countries were visited by ICANN staff and board members.<ref>[https://twitter.com/#!/RodBeckstrom/status/150262824977969152 Twitter Post, 12/23/11, Twitter.com]</ref> The Road Show was part of a [[ICANN Board|board]] mandated communications and outreach period.<ref>[http://blog.icann.org/2011/12/new-gtld-roadshows/ New gTLD Roadshows, Blog.ICANN.org]</ref> ICANN's outreach, and consequently the gTLD Road Show, were largely seen as lackluster, and [[Department of Commerce]] secretary, [[Larry Strickling]], chastised their failure to educate important stakeholders a week prior to the launch of the new gTLD program in January, 2012.<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 December, 2011, it was announced that Mr. Beckstrom would provide the keynote address at a new gTLD conference in London, [[New Top Level]], which is administered by [[CloudNames]], the PR agency [[Burson-Marsteller]], and international law firm [[DLA Piper]]. The event is not an ICANN event, despite the fact that [[Burson-Masteller]] has been contracted out by ICANN to help with its PR outreach. The event generally fits into Rod Beckstrom's larger world tour, promoting ICANN's new gTLD program.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/beckstrom-to-keynote-london-new-gtlds-conference/ Beckstrom to Keynote London New gTLDs Conference, DomainIncite.com]</ref>

In December, 2011, it was announced that Mr. Beckstrom would provide the keynote address at a new gTLD conference in London, [[New Top Level]], which is administered by [[CloudNames]], the PR agency [[Burson-Marsteller]], and international law firm [[DLA Piper]]. The event is not an ICANN event, despite the fact that [[Burson-Masteller]] has been contracted out by ICANN to help with its PR outreach. The event generally fits into Rod Beckstrom's larger world tour, promoting ICANN's new gTLD program.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/beckstrom-to-keynote-london-new-gtlds-conference/ Beckstrom to Keynote London New gTLDs Conference, DomainIncite.com]</ref>