Laison Report to ALAC/ At-Large Policy and Planning OneDay #3* (22 June 2008)


ccNSO IDNC has arranged, by the end of June 21, 2008, three rounds of public consulatations, eight conference calls, one face-to-face meeting (at IGF Prep conf. at Geneva) plus calling in and one face-to-face meeting (in Paris). Two at-large representatives, Cheryl and Hong, attended all these activities actively.
The fast-track will be the first real IDN implementation for users. We fully cherish the great opportunity of such an unprecedanted experiment and support an open, speedy and uncontentious fast-track approach to implement IDN ccTLDs. We wish and work for an implementation that is genuinely supported and sincerely serving the interests of the local Internet community. On behalf of the user community, we particularly emphasize two issues:
a) Pressing demand of non-ASCII users
The fast-track should reflect the sailent value of speediness and non-contentiousness. Nothing should prevent fast-track implementation in the real ready ccTLD territories. We support the balance and thoughtful approach and methodology that would make a speed and smooth implementation happen. We oppose to have a complicated and contentious process that could cause any delay. We strongly oppose any attempt to delay the fast track implementation merely to keep pace with the new gTLD process. Any market competitive interests should not go before the users' pressing demand for the IDNs. The fast track for ccTLDs is much simpler and less contraversial than IDN gTLDs and should take off as early as possible.
b) User participation
Delegation of an IDN ccTLD should only be possible in the Fast Track where the IDN ccTLD string is non-contentious within the territory and the designation of the selected delegate is non-contentious within the territory. It would be essential to present the evidenced support/endorsement of the relevant stakeholders in the territory for the selected string as a meaningful representation of the name of the territory and for the selected delegate.