TAGorg Internet Affairs Manager Takes Part in ICANN Meeting in New Delhi

NEW DELHI - Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg) Internet Affairs Manager, Bilal Beiram, took part in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) 31st International Public Meeting that was held February 10-15, in New Delhi, India.

The meeting brought together a total of 720 participants from 76 countries, to tackle the most pressing issues related to the future of the Internet, with a focus on ICANN’s ongoing work to develop new generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) and Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs).

“Discussions on IDNs centered around the progress on the Fast-Track Process for introducing a limited number of IDNs as country-code Top Level Domains within a short time frame,” Beiram said.

Beiram, who is a member of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Council, added that the meeting provided an opportunity which enabled stakeholders to engage in discussions and deliberations on other issues, such as domain tasting and GNSO reform and improvement.

According to ICANN, a number of resolutions have been passed by the Board, including:

• Directing staff to continue implementation work on new gTLDs, inform the GNSO and the public on progress made in implementation efforts, discuss some issues raised by the staff and Board regarding implementation with the GNSO Council, and provide information to the Board in a timely manner to enable the Board to discuss the recommendations and implementation issues and quickly determine a course of action for the introduction of new gTLDs, with staff to provide an update at the Board workshop on April 17, 2008;

• Asking ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees to continue their ongoing collaborative efforts and commitment to recommend a course of action to the Board in a timely manner;

• Have ICANN deploy IPv6 across its infrastructure and provide regular feedback to the community on progress and lessons learned;

• Approval of the Framework and Principles on Accountability and Transparency;

• Approval of a bylaw-change request from the At-Large Advisory Committee that will provide Regional At-Large Organizations with an important role in evaluating applications and increase transparency of the consideration of applications.

In addition, a consultation was held on the Midterm Review of ICANN’s Joint Project Agreement with the United States Department of Commerce and ICANN’s goal of continued transition of its role to the private sector.