[ALAC] Comment on proposal for the removal of existing gTLD-Registrar cross-ownership .

[JJS]

*Evan just brought out an aspect I had not noticed. So I too would request
the change he is suggesting.*
*Jean-Jacques.
*
2012/6/6 Evan Leibovitch <evan at telly.org>

> On 6 June 2012 03:53, Olivier MJ Crepin-Leblond <ocl at gih.com> wrote:
>
>
> > thank you for your kind follow-up on this. I understand that this was
> > a short comment period but have so far only see positive feedback about
> the
> > text.
>
>
>
> That said, I'm still ambiguous about the wording.
>
> Apparently, we're concerned about the price cap, but not enough to affect
> our approval of the policy. Tacking on "major" is IMO pointless. Either the
> issue is significant enough for ALAC to make support conditional on
> maintaining price controls, or it isn't. The wording of the statement
> allows our advice to be comfortably accepted as "support" and the trailer
> concern ignored.
>
> The policy can be revisited after the gTLD rollout and we can determine if
> monopoly power still exists.
>
> It's not likely I would vote in favour of the statement as worded. But I'm
> just one vote.
>
> - Evan
>
>
>
>
> >  With today being the deadline for submitting comments and
> > with only positive feedback received both on the ALAC but also the wider
> > At-Large list, I have given the green light for staff proceed as follows
> > TODAY:
> >
> > - submit this final version to the public comment process, with a note
> > that the statement is currently undergoing ALAC ratification,
> > - create a wiki page for the comment with the first draft of your text
> > and the final version, as submitted,
> > - cut/paste all comments received on the ALAC and the At-Large lists and
> > display them as a comment on this Wiki page.
> >
> > This process ensures a better transparency and archiving of the
> > discussion for future reference, if needed.
> >
> > Kind regards,
> >
> > Olivier
> >
> > On 06/06/2012 04:15, Alan Greenberg wrote :
> > > In light of Evan's comment, have made a change to the statement. Not
> > > exactly what he suggested, but I think in the same direction.
> > >
> > > I note that if a comment is to be submited by the ALAC, even a
> > > preliminary one, it must be done in the next 22 hours.
> > >
> > > Alan
> > > ==========================
> > >
> > > The ALAC and At-Large have multiple opinions on whether the removal
> > > of Cross-Ownership Restrictions for gTLD Operators will be to the
> > > benefit or detriment of users, or in fact, the domain ecosystem.
> > > There is, however, a unified position that whatever the environment
> > > is, with certain constraints, there should be a level playing field
> > > for all gTLD operators.
> > >
> > > As such, the ALAC supports the removal of cross-ownership constraints
> > > for existing gTLD operators.
> > >
> > > However, the ALAC does have one major concern with the proposal. The
> > > option for existing gTLD operators to transition to the new gTLD
> > > agreement would remove cross-ownership constraints, but it would also
> > > have a very significant other effect that has not been the subject of
> > > virtually any public discussion. Specifically, it would remove the
> > > price caps in the existing agreements, and that is not something that
> > > should quietly be slipped in without careful analysis.
> > >
> > > That transition would be subject to limits related to competition
> > > issues raised by the removal of the cross-ownership restrictions. The
> > > document is silent on other results of such a transition, and
> > > particularly the removal of price caps on existing operators.
> > >
> > > The ALAC does not believe that there is sufficient proof at this time
> > > to indicate that the new gTLD environment will so significantly
> > > change the gTLD market so that price caps are no longer required for
> > > the dominant gTLDs. As such, no change driven by the removal of
> > > cross-ownership restrictions should at the same time remove the price
> > > caps in the current agreements for dominant gTLDs without substantive
> > > community involvement.
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
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> >
> https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Advisory+Committee+(ALAC)
> > >
> >
> > --
> > Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, PhD
> > http://www.gih.com/ocl.html
> >
> >
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> >
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> >
>
>
>
> --
> Evan Leibovitch
> Toronto Canada
>
> Em: evan at telly dot org
> Sk: evanleibovitch
> Tw: el56
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