[ALAC] Fwd: ICANN Finalizes Process for Requests for Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels

[Carlton Samuels]

FYI

==============================
Carlton A Samuels
Mobile: 876-818-1799
*Strategy, Planning, Governance, Assessment & Turnaround*
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  [image: ICANN] <http://www.icann.org/> News Alert

https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2014-12-01-en
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ICANN Finalizes Process for Requests for Release of Two-Character ASCII
Labels

1 December 2014

As previously announced, ICANN has been working towards developing a
process to permit registries to request the release of two-character ASCII
labels at the second-level for registration to 3rd parties and activation
in the DNS pursuant to Section 2 of Specification 5. That process is now
final and available.

For all *digit/digit, letter/digit and digit/letter two-character ASCII
labels*, because this category has been determined not to raise significant
security, stability or competition concerns and has received no objections
from governments, country code top-level domain managers, and members of
the technical community or rights holders, ICANN has authorized their
release for all registries:

   - Authorization for the Release of All Digit/Digit, Letter/Digit and
   Digit/Letter Two-Character ASCII Labels at the Second-Level Authorization
   <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/spec5-amend-two-char-01dec14-en.pdf>
   [PDF, 142 KB]

Accordingly, registries are not required to submit any individual request
for release of any digit/digit, letter/digit or digit/letter two-character
ASCII label, and may immediately make such labels available for third party
registration and activation in the DNS.

Registries seeking to release *letter/letter two-character ASCII labels* at
the second-level will continue to follow a transparent process as
recommended by the Government Advisory Committee (GAC).

   1.  Registry operator submits a request to ICANN to release one or more
   letter/letter two-character ASCII label(s).
   2.  ICANN reviews the request and posts it for comment for 30 days.
   3.  ICANN notifies the GAC of the request and the comment period.
   4.  If there are no relevant and reasoned objections to the request,
   ICANN will approve the letter/letter ASCII label(s) request within 7-10
   calendar days of the close of the 30-day public posting period.

In accordance to Section 6 of Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement, a
list of reserved names for this section are still subject to the
reservation requirements and will not be available for release at this time.

To learn more about the Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character
ASCII Labels at the second level, and to obtain the form for "Request for
Release of Letter/Letter Two-Character ASCII Labels at the Second Level,"
please click here <https://www.icann.org/resources/two-character-labels>.
ICANN will communicate in writing its approval of any such request, if and
to the extent appropriate.

ICANN's Registry Services and Engagement team looks forward to implementing
these processes to allow registries and their registrants access to
two-character SLDs, and thanks the community for its input.

# # #
Media Contact

*Gwen Carlson*
Director, GDD Communications
Los Angeles, CA
*Tel:* +1 310 578 8653
*Email:* gwen.carlson at icann.org
About ICANN

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