[ALAC] IMPORTANT: US Senate hearings on new gTLDs

[Beau Brendler]

I'm not sure NARALO has ever taken aboard an agenda item suggested by EURALO, but I'm not territorial, consider it firmly placed on the agenda and consider yourself invited to speak on the topic (if you want to). The call is at 3 p.m. US EST on Monday.

Beau

-----Original Message-----
>From: sandra hoferichter <info at hoferichter.eu>
>Sent: Dec 8, 2011 4:32 PM
>To: 'Evan Leibovitch' <evan at telly.org>, 'ICANN ALAC list' <alac at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
>Subject: Re: [ALAC] IMPORTANT: US Senate hearings on new gTLDs
>
>Dear Evan,
>
>thank you for this first hand summary of the hearing.
>
>< Further to this, I would like to raise the issue as an agenda item on
>Monday's NARALO call and I would like us to consider letting the Committee
>know that there is indeed a group within ICANN that exists to provide the
>voice of Internet end-users,>
>
>I think this should be done, raise the voice of ALAC in this discussion, IMO
>the Chair and an American citizen could be an option.
>
>Best Sandra
>
>-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
>Von: alac-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org
>[mailto:alac-bounces at atlarge-lists.icann.org] Im Auftrag von Evan Leibovitch
>Gesendet: Donnerstag, 8. Dezember 2011 21:11
>An: ICANN ALAC list
>Betreff: [ALAC] IMPORTANT: US Senate hearings on new gTLDs
>
>Hello,
>
>I sent this first to the NARALO list because -- at least superficially --
>this is a US domestic event. I copied it here because -- let's face it --
>hearings about ICANN in the US government have potential consequences that
>go far beyond regional boundaries. If you have the time I think you'll find
>the video interesting.
>
>
>-------------------------
>
>
>This morning, the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
>Transportation held a hearing on the ICANN new gTLD program.
>
>The web page describing the hearing, which includes a video of the entire
>90-minute session, is at http://1.usa.gov/vzddPH
>I am told that it will soon be uploaded to the Committee's YouTube channel
>at http://www.youtube.com/user/SenateCommercePress
>
>Among the speakers are
>
>   - Kurt Pritz, ICANN VP
>   - Dan Jaffe of the Association of National Advertisers who is trying to
>   block the new gTLD program
>   - Fiona Alexander with the US NTIA
>   - Angela Williams of the US YMCA (speaking after deliberation with
>   ICANN's Non-Profit Organization Constituency)
>   - Esther Dyson, former ICANN Board member (and ALAC member from the
>   pre-RALO days when ALAC was all-appointed)
>
>It's VERY interesting listening. Kurt's message -- that adequate
>protections are in place in the program to deter large amounts of money
>spent on defensive registrations -- was not well received. In contrast, the
>committee heard about several instances -- in some cases by the Senators
>themselves -- who were the victims of cybersquatting and domain
>speculators. All other speakers were critical of the program and some were
>even asking if the US government has the authority to block the roll-out
>from happening in January as ICANN intends.
>
>Interesting note amongst the comments... many orgs have found themselves
>needing to buy defencive registrations in .XXX and are livid at the thought
>of having to do a bunch more for future TLDs. (For instance, Indiana
>University has purchased "hoosiers.xxx").
>
>Of note to us.... much was made by Kurt of the consensus between
>stakeholders. Dan shot that down in relation to business users and Angela
>said the NPOC wasn't allowed to become a real stakeholder group in time to
>have an impact on decisions already made. Esther made mention at the end
>that the real constituency not yet heard from (at least by the Senators)
>was the billions of Internet end users. Mention was made that the committee
>now needs to hear from them.
>
>This sounds like an opportunity to me.
>
>Now... I don't know if one has to be a US citizen to testify; if not the
>ALAC Chair or vice chairs (of which I am one) would all be good candidates
>and in fact the international character of ALAC sends a useful message IMO.
>But if the requirement is to be a US resident, I have complete and utter
>faith that NARALO's own leadership includes people (Beau, Ganesh, Eduardo)
>who could easily step into the role and do the community proud.
>
>Further to this, I would like to raise the issue as an agenda item on
>Monday's NARALO call and I would like us to consider letting the Committee
>know that there is indeed a group within ICANN that exists to provide the
>voice of Internet end-users,
>
>Thank you.
>
>- Evan
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