GAC statement on dot-xxx

The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) made the following statement regarding the introduction of the top-level domain dot-xxx at 9am on 17 March 2011.

The statement clarifies the position of governments prior to a likely Board decision on Friday 18 March

IN ITS COMMUNIQUE OF THE CARTAGENA MEETING OF DECEMBER 2010, THE GAC REITERATED ITS PREVIOUSLY STATED POSITION THAT THE WELLINGTON COMMUNIQUE REPRESENTS CONSENSUS GAC ADVICE AND STILL APPLIES.

THEREFORE, THE GAC WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE BOARD ABOUT THE FOLLOWING KEY POINTS OF THIS ADVICE.
THERE IS NO ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE GAC FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DOT XXX TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN.

WHILE THERE ARE MEMBERS WHICH NEITHER ENDORSE NOR OPPOSE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DOT XXX TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN, OTHERS ARE EMPHATICALLY IMPOSED FROM A PUBLIC POLICY PERSPECTIVE TO THE INTRODUCTION OF A DOT XXX TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN.

FURTHERMORE, THE GAC WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE ICANN BOARD THAT AN INTRODUCTION OF A DOT XXX TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN INTO THE ROOT MIGHT LEAD TO STEPS TAKEN BY SOME GOVERNMENTS TO PROHIBIT ACCESS TO THIS TLD.

THE GAC, THEREFORE, CALLS THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY EXPERTS THAT SUCH STEPS BEAR A POTENTIAL RISK OR THREAT TO THE UNIVERSAL RESOLVABILITY AND STABILITY OF THE DOMAIN NAME SYSTEM.

MOREOVER, THE GAC DOES NOT CONSIDER THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE BOARD TO HAVE ANSWERED THE GAC CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER THE ICM APPLICATION MEETS THE SPONSORSHIP CRITERIA.

THE GAC FURTHER SHARES CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY OTHERS THAT WITH THE REVISED PROPOSED ICANN ICM REGISTRY AGREEMENT, THE CORPORATION COULD BE MOVING TOWARDS ASSUMING AN ONGOING MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT ROLE REGARDING INTERNET CONTENT, WHICH COULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH ITS TECHNICAL MANDATE.

THE GAC LOOKS FORWARD TO THE BOARD CLARIFYING THE BASIS FOR ITS 10TH OF DECEMBER 2010 DECISION REGARDING DOT XXX.

THE GAC EXPECTS THAT THIS WOULD INCLUDE A RESPONSE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL OBJECTIONS RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY AND REFERENCE TO ICANN'S ROLE AS A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION.