Some thoughts on Internet
Governance and expansion of the
Domain Name space
Paul Twomey
President and CEO
9 August 2008
Panel on Internet Governance
American Bar Association Annual Meeting
New York City
1
27Apr08
2
3
4
ICANN mission statement
• To coordinate, overall, the global Internet's system of
unique identifiers, and to ensure stable and secure
operation of the Internet's unique identifier systems. In
particular, ICANN coordinates:
1. Allocation and assignment of the three sets of unique
identifiers for the Internet:
• Domain names (forming a system called the DNS)
• Internet protocol (IP) addresses and autonomous system
(AS) numbers
• Protocol port and parameter numbers
2. Operation and evolution of the DNS root name server system
3. Policy development reasonably and appropriately related to
these technical functions
5
ICANN’s principles of operation
1. Contribute to stability and security of the Internet
2. Promote competition and choice for registrants and
other users
3. Forum for multi-stakeholder, consensus-based bottomup development of related policy
4. Ensure an opportunity for participation by all
interested parties on a global basis
6
ICANN multi-stakeholder model
Governmental
Advisory
Committee (GAC)
Board of Directors
President and CEO
Nominating
Committee
ICANN Staff
ASO
Regional Internet
Registries
ARIN
RIPE NCC
LACNIC
APNIC
AfriNIC
15 voting
members +
6 non-voting
liaisons
GNSO
Commercial and
Business
gTLD Registries
ISPs
Non-Commercial
Registrars
Intellectual
Property
Technical
Liaison
Group (TLG)
Internet
Engineering
Task
Force
(IETF)
CCNSO
ccTLD
Registries
(.de
.uk
.cn,
.nl,
etc.)
Root Server
System
Advisory
Committee
(RSSAC)
Security &
Stability
Advisory
Committee
(SSAC)
At Large
Advisory
Committee
(ALAC)
Consensus policies developed through ICANN’s policy development
process affect stakeholders throughout the world and ensure a single,
secure, and globally interoperable Internet.
7
9Aug08
Top-Level Domains in the Root
Generic TLDs
test only
11
21
gTLDs
ccTLDs
IDNs
249
administered by designated country code
TLD operators
8
ICANN and New gTLDs
• Topic of discussion since creation of ICANN
• White Paper in 1998:
– The new corporation ultimately should have the
authority to manage and perform a specific set of
functions related to coordination of the domain
name system, including the authority necessary to:
3) oversee policy for determining the circumstances
under which new TLDs are added to the root system
9
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
Before 1998
.com .net .org
2000 Round
.aero .biz .coop .info
.museum .name .pro
2003 Round
.asia .cat .jobs .mobi
.travel .tel
10
Key Benefits of New gTLDs
• To encourage and foster creativity, innovation,
consumer choice, and competition in the domain
name space
• Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) for a more
globally and culturally inclusive internet
– IDNs currently only of second level
11
Main Application Paths
Application
Period
Evaluation
Processes
Objection Period and
Dispute Resolution
Processes
Delegation and
Approval
Processes
Identical/Similar TLD
Strings Selection
Methods
• Auction
• Comparative Evaluation
12
The Objection Processes
• Pre-defined objection filing period
• Processed by Dispute Resolution Provider(s)
• Potential grounds for objection
– String Confusion (Rec 2)
• Avoid user confusion
– Infringement of Rights (Rec 3)
• Protection of intellectual property and other pre-existing
rights
– Morality and Public Order (Rec 6)
• Additional safeguards; interests of governments
– Community Objection (Rec 20)
• Protection of community interests (e.g. geographically based,
13
indigenous, religieus organizations)
Anticipated Timeline
32nd ICANN Meeting (Paris)
CQ3 08
33rd ICANN Meeting (Cairo)
34th ICANN Meeting
CQ4 08
CQ1 09
35th ICANN Meeting
CQ2 09
Minimum 3 to 4 Months
Policy
Approved
DRP Providers
Retained
Draft RFP
Issued
Final RFP
Issued
Minimum 4 Months
Global Communication
Campaign
Application
Launch 43
President’s Strategy Committee
Improving Institutional Confidence
• Two years of consultation, advice, development ─
– Transition Action Plan for ICANN’s final steps toward privatesector led coordination of the Internet’s unique identifiers
• ICANN will continue as the secure, global coordinator
of the Internet’s critical infrastructure resources,
ensuring ICANN will be
– Sufficiently safeguarded against capture
– Sufficiently accountable to its multi-stakeholder community
and preserve the principles of bottom-up policy development
– Internationalized to allow it to meet the needs of the global
Internet community
– Financially and operationally secure
– Maintain its focus on organizational and operational excellence
15
9Aug08
Thank You
www.icann.org
16
15May08