The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) admitted today that its plans to launch new generic top-level domains (g’TD’s) is running behind schedule.According to ICANN, it is currently investigating a number of technical and economic issues surrounding the introduction of gTLDs. These include determining whether there’s enough space on the Domain Name Servers to handle the potential influx, the cost of registration and the potential market impact.
The gTLDs were intended to launch on 30 September, but the body now says it’s simply aiming for some time within 2009.
According to Icann’s director of product services and, Karla Valente:
“Even though the g’TLDs will not launch on 30 September, as we said in our Cairo meeting, we are still working internally to launch in 2009,” ” However, some overarching issues could delay things.”
“””These issues include the cost of registration, the market impact of the new gTLDs, and the technical impact, for example whether there is enough space on the Domain Name System to accommodate them.”””
“””Icann has now commissioned third parties to study the technical and market impact of new gTLDs, and will hold various public meetings globally from April “in order to address these major issues through a series of discussions”””.
From the original announcement by ICANN of the new gTLD’s, we felt the soonest we would see any of these actually in operation would be 2010, with this announcement, we feel certain.
Market impact.
I wonder if that’s their way of hinting at IP issues.
If not, they don’t seem to be suggesting that IP concerns are holding the gtld’s back at all.
“Icann has now commissioned third parties to study the technical and market impact of new gTLDs”
Third parties, huh? Market impact? This maneuver, imo, is for effect. Sorry to be so unforgiving but that’s how I see it.
We have precedent with new tld’s released into the market. We don’t need another scientific study. More objective “market analysis” is a gimmick when we have already have clear guidance based on market response and prior knowledge.
I think the huge community response to ICANN, which detailed volumes of compelling logic, obliterated the weak ICANN assertion that multiple tld’s will somehow bring sudden innovation to the market. Smoke and mirrors people. That’s what it is.
Do your study. Spend more money. The conclusion is the same. It’s a high risk proposal with dubious, if any, benefit to internet users. Having ANY time frame or target on implementation is flawed. The barriers and risks haven’t even been intelligently addressed by ICANN. This is a 5 year project minimum, not a 2010 project.
Mr. Menius
If you want to do it right ICANN would take years to roll it out.
If ICANN wants to make a ton of money it will be out by 2010.
100% MHB. 100% right.
Hi,
It is worth stressing that ICANN is a not-for-profit organization. There is no incentive for ICANN to make money, only to ensure that the agreed process goes ahead with the buy-in of its many stakeholders.
Re: the market study. A large number of people requested that more research be done into the market for TLDs; ICANN staff are following through on those requests.
I think it is very important to stress here that ICANN is a broad multistakeholder organization. ICANN staff act as a secretariat for all the governments, businesses, technical community and individual Internet users that make up the wider organization.
There is a tendency to view ICANN as a business that produces products when it really isn’t. ICANN is very unique in the sense that its whole structure exists to allow a very diverse group of people to find a common way forward.
It is not simple – in fact it’s quite often loud and messy – but I hope this explanation of what ICANN actually is will help explain why things happen the way they do.
Kieren McCarthy
General manager of public participation, ICANN
Kieren
I’m much more concerned about the new guide book that came out today and the apparent disregard for domain holders interest by allowing varible pricing.
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/19/icann-releases-new-gtld-guide-book-still-includes-no-price-caps-your-domains-are-at-risk/
Feel free to comment there
@ Michael: Well, that’s my point to be honest.
ICANN’s decisions are created through gradual consensus of its stakeholders. If the views of domain holders are – to your mind – not being represented sufficiently, then you need to say so – and say so within ICANN’s processes.
I’ve stuck a link to the Question Box on the other post – that is one way for people to make comments and raise questions. The best way to respond directly to something in the Guidebook is to use the public comment period that has just opened. See here: http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/#dagv2
If you’re not sure the process is going the right direction the answer is to get involved and say so, as well as point out a way forward that allows an intelligent compromise between all the stakeholders.
Kieren
Kieren
I made several comments on the previous draft, which dealt with these issues as well as did Mr. Kirikos and many other domain holders and those comments seem to have been ignored.
I also submitted questions on ICANN site for the Mexico city meetings days ago and blogged about the availability of this tool to submit questions.
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/13/ask-icann-a-question-without-risking-your-life/
But again if you look at today’s post and the comments of Mr. Kirikos, you will see that we have been involved in this process.
However our frustration comes from the fact that our voice (and common logic) that registries should not be able to charge $1,000,000 or $10,000,000 or even $500 for a domain renewal should have not made the second draft of the guide book
@ Michael: Yes, thankyou re: question box – I have noticed your questions and the link you provided to the box itself.
I am very concerned that you feel your and others’ comments have been “ignored”. They most certainly have not been ignored. You can full details of what people said and ICANN’s proposed positions on each topic in the summary and analysis of public comments.
For example, the Price Controls issue is on page 121, and also on page 134. The issues of Lack of Price Controls is on page 122. And an in-depth analysis of the broader issue starts on page 141.
There is a very big difference between being “ignored” and the wording not changing to fit your view. You can see that your view was taken into account – alongside the many others that expressed a view – and you can also see ICANN’s thinking on possible changes.
But this is the most important part: if you feel that ICANN has got this wrong, it is there in black and white what the current thinking is so you are in the position to explain precisely why you feel that thinking may be imperfect or wrongly weighted.
This is a draft Applicant Guidebook and it is expressly put out to a second comment period to enable this sort out of exchange.
There are a lot of people that wish to help shape the future expansion of the Internet and you need to persuade them as well that your point and perspective is the best one.
A good example is the response provided to George Kirikos by Jeff Neuman – where he says he feels some of the points are taken out of context and that other balancing points have either been ignored or not fully understood.
This is a complex process and it never lends itself to black and white judgments.
I hope this iteration of the guidebook encourages you to continue to participate further rather than give up on the changes you think still need to be made.
Kieren
Does anyone know if there’s a dummies guide in plian English what this proposal actually means and what the new gTLDs will be?
Yookay
I have not seen a simple explaination of the rules for the new gTLD’s anywhere.
However you can read some blogs we wrote on it including responses by a rep of ICANN they may help you.
Here:
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/22/icann-hands-all-geo-gtld-extensions-over-to-governments-thats-just-the-start-of-the-problems/
and Here:
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/21/thinking-about-applying-for-your-own-gtld-it-could-cost-you-a-lot-more-than-185k/
and here:
http://www.thedomains.com/2009/02/19/icann-releases-new-gtld-guide-book-still-includes-no-price-caps-your-domains-are-at-risk/