ICANN Chairman Peter Dengate Thrush and CEO Rod Beckstrom indicated in a video tapped interview today ICANN will proceed with the registry contract over the GAC’s objections, if necessary The Video interview appears on the top of the ICANN site. Both the Chairman and the CEO indicated that Consultation with the GAC which is scheduled for February "is little more than a formality" Thrush … [Read more...]
Will ICANN Ever Approve New gTLD’s? Check Out The Language In This Resolution
One of the resolutions the ICANN Board made on Friday may indicate that new gTLD's applicants may have a LONG time before getting their extension. The Resolution passed on Friday, entitled Consumer Choice, Competition and Innovation, said: "Whereas, if and when new gTLDs have been in operation for one year, ICANN has committed to organize a review that will examine the extent to which the … [Read more...]
ICANN Colombia Meeting: All Talk; No Action
As the ICANN meeting wrapped up with ICANN punting on making any meaningful decision after a 5 days of committee, subcommittees, working groups, advisory board meetings, public comment sessions and Board meetings, my feeling leaving Colombia is that the meeting amounted to All Talk and No Action. For those of you who have never attended an ICANN meeting (which is free to attend) there are … [Read more...]
ICM Registry Issues Press Release On ICANN Board Decision
The ICM Registry who is seeking the the .XXX extension just issued a press release to respond to the decision of the ICANN board this morning in which they said the "intend" to enter into a contract with ICM to run the registry, but just not yet Here is the press release: "The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has stated that it intends to contract with ICM Registry … [Read more...]
Last Chance: Comment Period For New gTLD Guidebook Closes 7am Friday, Get your Comments In
The period to comment to ICANN on the latest and supposedly the last draft Guidebook for the new gTLD's closes on Friday Morning at 7AM EST so this is your last chance to comment. The ICA just filed their comments today and Phil Corwin from the ICA has informed me that all domainers can cut and paste comments from his letter and use them as part of their own comment. I spoke to Phil in detail … [Read more...]
The UK & Other Governments Give The ICANN Board A Good Working Over On The New gTLD’s
The 2nd day of the ICANN meeting in Colombia was highlighted by The Government Advisory Committee (the GAC) open meeting yesterday with the ICANN board. The room was packed. Not a seat was avaliable and many people stood and leaned against the walls to hear what representatives of governments from around the world had to say about the new gTLD program and the current "final" … [Read more...]
ICANN Day 1: The Natives Are Getting Restless & Other Observations
The ICANN meeting got under way in Colombia yesterday and the new gTLD's were back front and center. There were two sessions on the new gTLD program today and my general take away from listening to the many people who got up and spoke during the sessions is that the applicants and service providers are getting tired of the process and want ICANN to move ahead NOW. While there is still some … [Read more...]