Lessons from ICANN’s new gTLD program Singapore – June 17, 2011 Asia Pacific Regional IGF

4 yrs NOT long for a program like the new gTLDs! It feels a long time because the new gTLDs were announced as a done deal back in June because since then ICANN has openly encouraged business initiatives around new gTLDs, but has not given a stable timeline for the program’s launch. because outside ICANN, hard to understand the issues and to read past the headlines that new gTLDs are coming tomorrow. But…

4 yrs is NOT a long time for a governance body to design a new set of rules as far reaching as the new gTLD program is likely to be for the Internet!

So what have we learned?

Governments believe in the BU MS process… up to a point! GAC has actively engaged in the consultations. Impressive work was done on the Brussels Scorecard and in subsequent consultations (SFO). But GAC issues coming in late -> risk of short-circuiting the GNSO-initiated BU PDP.

The BU PDP takes time! An example: Ry/Rr separation. This issue problematic in part because Board stepped in without waiting for GNSO policy recommendation. ICANN founding principle: PD will be a BU process in which every stakeholder has an equal voice. GAC/Board consultations give one stakeholder a greater voice than the others.

But everyone is right! GAC, for pointing out items it has issues with. Board, for wanting to bring the new gTLD program to completion after so many expectations have been built up around it for so many years. Community, for not wanting to see the PD process hijacked by one party.

And everyone is learning! The Board. It actively engaged in discussions and recognized the need to seriously address governments’ issues. The GAC. It worked harder than before to identify its issues and explain them. The Community. Principles matter, and process matters at ICANN, otherwise expectations end up getting dashed and new initiatives may take longer to enact than anticipated.

The market will change! What strategy for a leading registrar? The answer seems easy. But is it? E.g., should registrars feel forced to become registries? How will registrars process the high number of new TLDs? Group NBT have chosen to aid their customers in becoming TLD operators, but is that a good fit for everyone?

And let’s not forget…

The ICANN model is still very new! Just over 10 yrs. Give it a chance. Other major governance bodies have had much longer to mature. Jostling for position. Everyone needs to find their place in the model. Governments cannot have it all their own way, the rest of the community cannot dismiss governmental issues. And…

…the multistakeholder model has proven itself!

In 1998, the year ICANN was created, there were: Less than 2.5 million registered domain names. Today there are: More than 205 million!

In 1998, there were: 8 gtLDs Today there are: 22! And…

In 1998, the Internet worked fine Today its still works fine !

 INDOM 2008 Journée des managers  Lundi 30 juin Honfleur INDOM 2008 Journée des managers Lundi 30 juin Honfleur Thank you! Stéphane Van Gelder General manager, Group NBT France Chair, GNSO Council