Public Comment is a vital part of our multistakeholder model. It provides a mechanism for stakeholders to have their opinions and recommendations formally and publicly documented. It is an opportunity for the ICANN community to effect change and improve policies and operations.
The RySG appreciates the opportunity to comment on these draft sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB). While a number of RySG members are actively involved in the Implementation Review Team, the public comment period is an important chance for other members to review the work with fresh eyes and offer input that we hope will be useful to the IRT in refining the proposed language for future iterations of the draft AGB. As such, we offer the following assessment of whether the language for each section is consistent with the relevant policy recommendations from the Subsequent Procedures PDP, as well as additional input that we believe it is important for the IRT to consider.
If no, please explain.
The proposed language for this section of the AGB appears generally consistent with the relevant recommendations regarding a Predictability Framework, in that it lays out a draft of such a framework. However, in refining the language of this section, the RySG urges the IRT to consider two key points: 1. First, the AGB should define what constitutes “material” impact on applicants, or otherwise provide more transparency into how the materiality of a proposed change will be determined. Much of the SPIRT framework relies on this determination, but it is not clear from the current draft how changes will be assessed, or by whom. 2. Since the GNSO Council will oversee the SPIRT, the IRT should consider working with the Council to develop guidelines regarding conflicts of interests for Councillors when it comes to such oversight duties.
If no, please explain.
While the proposed language is consistent with the relevant recommendation, the RySG suggests that the IRT consider incorporating transparency reporting requirements in the event that a new gTLD application has to be re-assigned to a secondary evaluator. Additionally, the RySG requests that the IRT make clear, either in this section of the AGB or elsewhere, whether the Guidelines included in section 2.1 of this draft also apply to the Codes of Conduct for Applicants and Registry Services Providers.
If no, please explain.
This language appears to be consistent with the relevant recommendation, but it is difficult to assess without seeing the content that will be linked in this section of the AGB (where the draft includes placeholders). The Affirmation 10.1 includes a number of useful references to legal rights that would be helpful to include in the final language of this section of the AGB.
If no, please explain.
This language appears to be consistent with the relevant recommendation, but the RySG requests that the IRT make a clarifying edit for the avoidance of doubt. Specifically, above the table in Section 1, “Blocked and Reserved Names,” we suggest that the language reflect that the names are not available to be applied for as gTLD/top-level strings in the next application round or future application procedures, and not gTLDs that are already delegated into the Root Zone.
If no, please explain.
The RySG notes that it is difficult to fully assess this section of the draft AGB, and whether the proposed language is consistent with the relevant recommendations, given that some portions will be revisited when the IRT deals with subsequent topics (e.g., the language on the Review Procedure for Geographic Names in section 1.4). Additionally, the rules and procedures outlined in this section necessarily go beyond what is written in the recommendations. On that language, the RySG offers the following comments for the IRT’s consideration: 1. Section 1.3 states that ICANN will comply with a legally binding court order, but does not provide any detail as to what will happen to the gTLD application in such an event. It would be useful to provide more detail around such a scenario, including if and how the applicant would be renumerated. 2. Section 1.4 appears to introduce the concept that ICANN may announce an end to the application round. This would seem to have significant implications to other sections of the AGB, so we urge the IRT to make the language on this subject in other relevant sections very clear.
The Registries Stakeholder Group (RySG) appreciates the opportunity to comment on these sections of the Draft Applicant Guidebook. The RySG notes that while the sections are consistent with the recommendations, there are areas where more clarity would be beneficial.