Registrars: new gTLD evaluation.

Sebastian Bachollet speaks to the registrars’ meeting. Has given presentations to different constituencies. Conducting interviews. 7 new gTLDs. 6 launched, .pro in the middle of the river. Address 12 questions; priority questions set up by NTEPPTF. Evaluation team: Summit Strategies Intl. (Miriam Sapiro); Solucom (?; Michel Briche); Bachollet supervising. Goal: Draft evaluation report at middle January / end January. Draft to TEAC (TLD Evaluation Advisory Committee); final report to TEAC around Rome meeting. Rough overview of questions. For some questions, input from registrars needed since they were between end customers and registry. Would like input about process with different new gTLDs. Difficulties faced? Technologies used by registries? Initial trademark protection? Startup issues? Implementation of registration restrictions? WHOIS and how it was implemented? Competition — how did new gTLD change market, if at all? Effect on scope and competitiveness of domain name market? Effect on existing TLDs and registrants? Service continuity? Legal framework?If anyone wants to be interviewed, please contact Bachollet.Question: Evaluation process further delaying new gTLDs? SB: Question to board, can’t answer that. Dan Halloran points out formal deadline from MoU — September 2004.Bachollet asks that r’ar constituency identify a small, but diverse set of registrars that might serve as interview partners.