Month: December 2002

The DNSO is re-opening the opportunity for comments on the WHOIS Task Force’s report. Comments can be sent to comments-whois@dnso.org. The archive is here.

The presentation I used for my WHOIS briefing during the at-large session in Amsterdam a week ago is available here.

John Udell reports about voice indexing at infoworld (via Scripting News). Why I’m linking to this from here? Once this takes off and becomes available at a reasonable price, it’ll be an invaluable tool for the telephone conference loving parts of the ICANN community. Right now, you either have mp3 files you don’t have the time to listen to (and can’t search), or you have transcripts which may frequently be (1) hard to comprehend and (2) unsearchable because the transcriber didn’t get the important key words right.

Some ICANN-related snapshots (not high quality, but at least something ;-): conference hotel in Shanghai; the Board in Amsterdam; Alejandro presenting the transition article; Amadeu presenting his concerns with the Nominating Committee.

To those at-large folks currently in Amsterdam: The board is about to finish early. We expect to meet at 09:00 in Saturn room, as opposed to at 13:00. (Update: The board just inserted a break, so 09:00 is too early. Still, expect that we will meet within the next hour or so.)

Katoh-san reading the proposed IDN resolution. (IDN implementation committee; extending the committee’s lifetime.) Amadeu wants experts in comparative linguistics added to implementation committee since that’s where the real problems are. Agreement from Katoh-san. Unanimously approved.

Stuart explains the resolution. Introduction of new TLDs in an “appropriate, measured fashion.” Three parts of the resolution: Authorize expenditures; request GNSO to provide recommendation “on whether to structure the evolution of the generic top level namespace”. Don’t impose deadline, “because we need the opportunity to discuss with the chair of the names council what’s a reasonable schedule on which that work can be done.” Hope it can be done in a reasonably timely fashion. Third part: Direct president to develop draft RFP for “soliciting proposals for a limited number of new sponsored gTLDs.” Stuart: “With no prescription on whether or not this number be prime.” Discussion. Abril i Abril on “limited number” language: Interprets this as meaning “at least 3”. Stuart: There may be no proposals. But expect not to set a number in advance, so practically not less than 3. Unanimously approved. (Cohen absent during this discussion.)

Resolution to authorize the president to spend up to $ 325,000 to augment staff and pay for travel and other expenditures that are related to transition. Unanimously accepted.

The ERC is continued until the earlier of sending a final report or end of 2003. Abril i Abril: Go beyond establishment of new board? Cerf: Would assume that ERC work will have been completed when new board is in place. Stuart points to CCNSO formation work which continues. Touton: Appropriate for new board to seat new members of the ERC. Abril i Abril. With new board being established any or all of the members of the evolution committee may not be members of the board. Chapin points to XX.2.7 of the new bylaws (transition article) on terms of committee members. Addresses Amadeu’s concern. Accepted, with Kraaijenbrink and Pisanty abstaining.

Abril i Abril talking about the board’s bad habits of “working, or lack thereof”. Slightly earlier, he mentioned the frequent extensions of board terms. Vint is asking the at-large directors whether they want or don’t want to serve on the transition board. Kraaijenbrink: “So I believe that I have a duty to the corporation to see that it that the transition is done in the right and proper way. So I’m willing to continue on the transition board and be, again, a board squatter.” Fitzsimmons wishes to “transition off the board effective immediately.” Vint: “You can’t leave instantaneously. You have to stay until the close of this board meeting.” Fitzsimmons: “Feel better already.” Linda Wilson: “Board squatter” like Frank and Hans. Uncomfortable with that term. Feels deep sense of obligation to see the transition through, wishes to stay to work with the board until the new board is seated. Andy Müller-Maguhn: Directly elected. Election followed a little bit what he thought the original idea of ICANN was, balance between those affected by policies and those who run the infrastructure. Voted against acceptance of ERC outcome because wrong priorities, and abolishes the possibility for direct elections. Agrees to stay there, still tries to be constructive and follow process, try to point out the right priorities. Impact of intellectual property interest on the free flow of information. Privacy. ICANN has to be careful to watch what it calls its stakeholders, agreement with Blokzijl. Vint: Realize that everyone does a stump speech. Ivan Moura Campos briefly states that he’s willing to stay. Nii Quaynor willing to stay. Katoh-san wants to stay because of original election; feels that he has an obligation to stay on to represent the people. Not only protection of intellectual property, but many other issues. Very obligated to support all those people who are supporting a stable internet. Cohen: Wants to thank the people who are willing to continue to serve. “Board squatter” particularly unkind and unfair. Appreciation for those who committed their time.