[kictanet] ICANN Releases Draft IDN Evaluation Plans

[alice]

        Procedures for IDN TLD Evaluation Deployment in the Root Zone

6 August 2007

ICANN has finalized the procedures describing how IANA will manage the 
insertion, administration and removal of internationalized top- level 
domains in the root zone for the upcoming evaluation. The procedures 
were posted previously for public comments. That comment, as well as 
advice from the technical community (including RSSAC), was taken into 
consideration in editing the final versions.

The two procedures guiding this effort are:

1. IANA Root Zone Procedures for Test IDN Deployment 
<http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/test-deployment-procedures-06aug07.htm>

The final procedure was approved by the ICANN Board on 29 June 2007 (see 
http://icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm 
<http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-29jun07.htm>) after some 
clarifications were provided in response to public comment (see 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/iana-idn-process/). These procedures are 
being implemented by IANA in preparation for the insertion of IDN 
evaluation TLDs.

2. Root Server Operator Procedures for Emergency Revocation of 
Evaluation-purpose IDN TLDs 
<http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/operator-emergency-procedures-06aug07.htm>

The purpose of this procedure is to provide a method of quickly removing 
IDN TLDs from the root zone in the very unlikely event that insertion of 
these evaluation strings negatively impact DNS or root server 
operations. After consultation with the RSSAC, the procedure has been 
modified to focus on a communication protocol that root server operators 
will employ in the identification and mitigation of any problems that 
might arise for root server operations as a consequence of the proposed 
testing of IDN strings . Root server operators will monitor and identify 
deteriorated service potentially caused by IDNs in the root. If such a 
result is detected, ICANN will be notified and in turn activate the 
procedure.

IDN Program -- looking forward: The next milestones in the IDN Program 
Plan requires obtaining necessary approvals to insert the eleven 
suggested evaluation top-level domains (the term <.test> translated into 
eleven languages). (See the IDN .test Evaluation Plan at http:// 
icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-19jun07.htm 
<http://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-2-19jun07.htm>). An 
additional announcement will be made once the approvals have been 
received. It is anticipated that these evaluation TLDs will be launched 
in late September 2007.

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Updated IDN .test Evaluation Plan

ICANN updates the IDN .test Evaluation Plan based on comment to the 
previously posted version of the plan for the insertion of evaluation 
IDN TLDs in the root zone

19 July 2007 Update

ICANN has amended the draft plan for insertion of evaluation IDN TDs 
into the root zone based on comments received on the public forum 
established for that purpose (see, 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/). Specifically, an amended 
version of the proposed label for the Persian TLD, has been posted (see, 
http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/idn-evaluation-plan-v2.9.1.pdf [PDF, 
241K]). The changes that have been made: (i) replaces the previously 
suggested Persian .test TLD with an alternate TLD label that more 
clearly reveals the Persian YEH, and (ii) changes of the reference to 
the name of the language from Farsi to Persian.

Comments on this or other aspects of the evaluation plan can be made to 
idn-tld-test at icann.org <mailto:idn-tld-test at icann.org> and viewed at 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/.

For more details please see: 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/msg00002.html and 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/msg00003.html.

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ICANN Releases Draft IDN Evaluation Plans

19 June 2007

As announced previously in the IDN program status report, in the draft 
IANA Root Zone Procedures for Test IDN Deployment, and the draft IDN TLD 
Root Server Performance / Tolerance, ICANN has developed a plan for 
insertion of IDN TLDs in the root zone for evaluation. The .test plan 
contains two separate evaluation facilities where the feasibility and 
usability of fully localized domain names can be evaluated and tested in 
a live environment. Implementation of this plan is one of the core 
elements in ICANN’s IDN Program.

The draft .test plan is posted here for public comment 
<http://www.icann.org/topics/idn/idn-evaluation-plan-v2%209.pdf>. The 
draft contains a preliminary list of scripts for the example.test 
evaluation strings. Recommendations for changes or additions to this 
list of strings will be reviewed carefully to ensure broad public 
participation in the evaluations.

During the public comment period, the plan will be discussed during 
several sessions of the ICANN meeting in San Juan (June 2007) and at the 
RSSAC / IETF meeting in Chicago (July 2007). Subject to these and other 
consultations, a final version of the plan will be provided for ICANN 
Board consideration at its 14 August 2007 meeting. ICANN Board approval 
will be sought for the plan, including approval of the insertion of the 
suggested evaluations strings (<.test> translated into a number of 
different languages), in the root zone. According to the plan the 
evaluation facilities will be launched in late September 2007.

Comments to the draft .test plan can be submitted idn-tld-test at icann.org 
<mailto:idn-tld-test at icann.org> and viewed here 
http://forum.icann.org/lists/idn-tld-test/. For other questions or 
inquiries regarding ICANN’s IDN Program please contact Tina Dam, ICANN’s 
Director for the IDN Program, at tina.dam at icann.org 
<mailto:tina.dam at icann.org>.

Translation of the .test plan into Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian, and 
Chinese is currently underway and will be released shortly.