PcWorld.com Article on New Domain Extensions: Should ICANN Be Spilt in Two?

In an article published yesterday by PCWorld.com on the new gTLD domain extensions, widely quoting ICA’s Philip Corwin, talks about the push back of many businesses to the new gTLD’s and raises the question of whether a fundamental change in policy should take place, now that ICANN contract with the US government is up for renewal.

The Idea is floated around the article, that ICANN’s duties should be split into two organizations, with ICANN handling the administration of top level domains, and another to handle country code and secondary domains.

Personally I’m not sure that’s a good idea.

Regarding the New gTLD’s,  Corwin is quoted as follows, and you can read the entire article here.

“”””Philip Corwin, counsel to the Internet Commerce Association, suggested ICANN slow down its timeline, with a second comment period starting shortly, after ICANN received more than 300 comments in a first comment round. ICANN’s working timeline has the organization receiving applicants for new TLDs in the second half of the year.

Several groups have raised concerns about the new TLD proposal, with a major concern being the cost to business to register new Web sites on several new TLDs.

“Isn’t it more important to do this right than to do this quickly?” Corwin asked.

Levins (President of ICANN) said ICANN will consider all the concerns brought up in the first comment period, although he wouldn’t commit to changing the timeline. “You’re right; it’s important to get this right,” he said.””””