[APAC-Discuss] Fwd: [ALAC] ICANN Seeks Input on gTLD Batching

[Holly Raiche]

Is this an item that we want to provide comments on?

Holly

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Alan Greenberg <alan.greenberg at mcgill.ca>
> Date: 30 July 2012 1:38:19 PM AEST
> To: alac Working List <alac at atlarge-lists.icann.org>
> Subject: [ALAC] ICANN Seeks Input on gTLD Batching
> 
> http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-29jul12-en.htm
> 
> 
> 
> ICANN Seeks Input on gTLD Batching
> 
> 29 July 2012
> 
> Opportunity for Community Input: Processing of New gTLD Applications
> 
> At the Prague ICANN meeting, the new gTLD Program 
> Committee decided to terminate Digital Archery, 
> and instructed ICANN staff to proceed with the 
> initial evaluation of applications as quickly as 
> possible. This evaluation is in progress based on 
> a tentative project plan that foresees the 
> processing of applications in a single batch, and 
> simultaneous release of results. ICANN believes 
> this approach is consistent with the constraints 
> that various parts of the community have in 
> performing their respective roles in the 
> evaluation process, and with the feedback 
> received from the community at the Prague meeting.
> 
> This comment opportunity seeks input on 
> requirements for an evaluation and delegation 
> process consistent with previous root zone 
> scaling discussions of smooth delegations, adding 
> no more than 1,000 new gTLDs per year. This outcome can be achieved by the:
> 
> 	a. timing of the release of evaluation results to applicants,
> 
> 	b. timing of the release of applications into 
> the pre-delegation steps of contract execution and pre-delegation testing,
> 
> 	c. metering of delegations of new gTLDs into the root zone.
> 
> ICANN is committed to executing the evaluation 
> and delegation process in a way that is equitable 
> and meets ICANN's commitment to ensuring the 
> security and stability of the DNS, consistent 
> with previously established root zone scaling goals.
> 
> Please write to newgtld-input at icann.org with your 
> input. Comments received by 19 August 2012 (UTC 00:00) will be considered.
> 
> Background
> 
> The concept of batching has been a part of the 
> Applicant Guidebook since its first draft. Batching accomplishes three goals:
> 
> 	1. Better management of the evaluation process 
> by placing an upper bound on the number of 
> evaluators necessary and the number of parallel 
> evaluations occurring at any one time.
> 
> 	2. Release of evaluation results to applicants 
> according to a predictable schedule.
> 
> 	3. Delegation of TLDs at a rate acceptable to 
> the technical community, consistent with the root zone scaling discussion.
> 
> Based on the definitive information that ICANN 
> now has about the pool of applications, and work 
> on the evaluations to date, this comment process 
> seeks input to meet requirements for goals #2 and #3.
> 
> Leading up to and during ICANN's meeting in 
> Prague, the applicant and community positions on 
> requirements for batching schemes that would 
> control the evaluation, communication and 
> delegation of applications were reported to be:
> 
> 	a. The batching solution has to be equitable.
> 
> 	b. The evaluation results have to be announced at the same time.
> 
> 	c. Successful applications should proceed to 
> delegation phase without undue delays.
> 
> 	d. Delegation to the root must be at a smooth 
> rate and must not exceed 1,000 per year.
> 
> 	e. The GAC is planning to issue early warnings 
> shortly after the Toronto ICANN meeting in October 2012.
> 
> 	f. Consideration by the GAC of issues concerning 
> GAC advice on contentious applications is not 
> expected to be finalized before the Beijing meeting in April 2013.
> 
> During the root scaling discussion, it was agreed 
> that ICANN would not delegate TLDs at a rate 
> greater than 1,000 per year. This is because the 
> primary challenge with maintaining root zone 
> stability is controlling the rate of change to 
> the root zone system and not the size of the root 
> zone itself, meaning delegation should not occur 
> at a rate of 1,000 delegations on a single day.
> 
> In Prague, the batching and prioritization method 
> known as Digital Archery was terminated and 
> eliminated from further consideration.
> 
> Recent Developments
> 
> Initial evaluation of new gTLD applications is underway.
> 
> Applications are being distributed to evaluators 
> in a way that enables efficient processing.
> 
> ICANN has conducted pilot evaluations and had 
> discussions with evaluators to accelerate the 
> evaluation schedule. As a result of these 
> discussions, the evaluation teams have committed 
> to accelerate the evaluations substantially, 
> while processing them in a single batch.
> 
> In Prague, a methodology was discussed where the 
> smooth delegation of applications could occur by 
> first releasing applications that passed initial 
> evaluation without the need for clarifying 
> questions, then releasing applications in order 
> of the number of clarifying questions required, 
> from fewest to highest. After analysis, this 
> methodology proved unworkable because 80% to 90% 
> of the total evaluation time is required to form 
> and ask clarifying questions, so little smoothing would result.
> 
> The current plan indicates that initial 
> evaluation of all applications, processed in a 
> "single batch", can be completed in 11-12 months, 
> possibly less ­ resulting in publication of results in June-July 2013.
> 	Note: It is planned that regular updates to 
> applicants during the evaluation period will be 
> provided. In addition to written reports, ICANN 
> is looking into the use of a webinar / conference 
> call format to deliver updates.
> 
> For applicants, releasing results in a single 
> batch would mean that the first delegations would 
> occur in late third quarter of 2013, six months later than originally expected.
> 
> Implications of GAC timing:
> 
> 	The GAC plans to "issue any Early Warnings 
> shortly after the Toronto ICANN meeting, in 
> October 2012," meaning that Early Warnings would 
> be received within the currently planned single evaluation period.
> 	
> 	Also, the GAC "is considering the implications 
> of providing any GAC advice on gTLD applications. 
> These considerations are not expected to be 
> finalized before the Beijing meeting in April 
> 2013." This is shortly before the currently 
> planned announcement of initial evaluation 
> results (i.e., the schedule without additional 
> accelerations beyond those stated above).
> 
> Statement of the Issue
> 
> While there will be some natural smoothing as 
> applications take different paths through 
> objections and contention resolution processes, 
> there will still be a requirement for some method 
> of metering applications into the delegation 
> process. This is due to the relatively high 
> number of applications that may reach 
> pre-delegation steps at essentially the same 
> time. A metering method has not yet been 
> determined and will need to be developed.
> 
> Questions to be answered by comments
> 
> Submitted comments should specifically answer each of the following questions:
> 
> 	1. Should the metering or smoothing consider 
> releasing evaluation results, and transitioning 
> applications into the contract execution and 
> pre-delegation testing phases, at different times?
> 
> 		a. How can applications be allocated to 
> particular release times in a fair and equitable way?
> 
> 		b. Would this approach provide sufficient smoothing of the delegation rate?
> 
> 		c. Provide reasoning for selecting this approach.
> 
> 	2. Should the metering or smoothing be 
> accomplished by downstream metering of 
> application processing (i.e., in the contract 
> execution, pre-delegation testing or delegation phases)?
> 
> 		a. How can applications be allocated to a 
> particular timing in contract execution, 
> pre-delegation testing, or delegation in a fair and equitable way?
> 
> 		b. Provide reasoning for selecting this approach.
> 
> 	3. Include a statement describing the level of 
> importance that the order of evaluation and 
> delegation has for your application.
> 
> Please write to newgtld-input at icann.org with your 
> input. Comments received by 19 August 2012 (UTC 00:00) will be considered.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ALAC mailing list
> ALAC at atlarge-lists.icann.org
> https://atlarge-lists.icann.org/mailman/listinfo/alac
> 
> At-Large Online: http://www.atlarge.icann.org
> ALAC Working Wiki: https://community.icann.org/display/atlarge/At-Large+Advisory+Committee+(ALAC)