[kictanet] dot Africa Reserve Name Policy Discussions (Introduction)

[Barrack Otieno]

Listers,


Those who follow Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(ICANN) processes, must be aware of the new generic Top Level Domains
(gTLDs) initiative (http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/).

Generic Top level domains (gTLDs) are  names of an Internet address that
identifies it generically as associated with some domain class, for
example   .org (for non-profit organisations, industry groups, and others),
.com (commercial), etc. While ccTLDs (country code top-level domain name)
identify national domicile for an address. (For instance, .ke for Kenya and
.ug for Uganda.)

In June 2011, ICANN's Board of Directors approved the new gTLD Guidebook
and authorised the launch of the New gTLD Program. The application window
opened on 12 January 2012, and ICANN received 1,930 applications for new
gTLDs. Among them the geographic TLD for Africa,  dotAfrica.

* Dot Africa*

"dotAfrica is the proposed name for the African continent's generic Top
Level Domain (gTLD). It is an opportunity to forge an identity that will
elevate and enhance an African digital presence"...."it is also that
specific Internet namespace for Africa and will echo ongoing operation and
successes of other sister community TLDs such as DotEu (DotEuropa) and
DotAsia which have created a new Internet identity for their users and
business who seek more regional presence without being confined within the
limits of one country"

The extraordinary Session of the African Union CITMC held in Johannesburg,
acknowledged the benefit of the Dotafrica domain name to Africa and adopted
a resolution to "Establish dot Africa as a continental Top-Level Domain for
use by organisations, businesses and individuals with guidance from African
Internet agencies".The AUC  was therefore given the mandate from African
governments to establish "dot Africa as a continental Top-Level Domain for
use by organisations, businesses and individuals with guidance from African
Internet Agencies" and to "set up the structure and modalities for the
implementation of the dot Africa project" as provided for in the 2010 Abuja
Declaration.  The AUC appointed Uniforum to coordinate the ICANN
application process and manage regional TLD. The dot Africa project is
currently at the cusp of transition from the Application Phase to the
Launch Phase until the TLD is delegated by ICANN.


The dot Africa initiative aims:

    To sponsor, establish and operate a regional Internet namespace with
global recognition and regional significance. The namespace is dedicated to
the needs of the Pan-African Internet community.
    To reinvest surpluses in socio-technological advancement initiatives
relevant to the Pan-African Internet community.
    To operate a successful not-for-profit initiative that is a technically
sound, leading edge TLD registry for the Pan-African Internet community.
    The development and support of African ccTLDs through the work of AfTLD
    The development and support of a competitive and vibrant African
Registrar market
    Content development, and
    The coordination and support of socio-economic and enterprise
development initiatives relating to ICT

For more details about the AUC/Uniforum dotAfrica project please visit:
http://africainonespace.org/content.php?tag=5&title=What+is+dotAfrica%3F
and
http://pages.au.int/infosoc/pages/dotafrica-top-level-domain-africa-project


Part of the launch process for dotAfrica involves the development of
various policy documents including a Reserve Name Policy (RNL) in order to
“deter abusive registrations and create an efficient, effective and stable
launch”. This process will provide African member states and other
stakeholders with the opportunity to submit reserve name lists to the dot
Africa registry UNIFORUM/ZACR during the PreSunrise phase.


The RNL will regulate the reservation of certain domain names prior to
launch, which may be regarded as important, sensitive, offensive and/or
otherwise in the general interest for the well being of the TLD. When a
domain name has been entered into the RNL, the registry will ensure that
the name is not made available for registration, other than through defined
redemption processes as articulated in the RNL policy.

The Reserve Name List Policy is now open for public comment period
starting July 1st to August 1st. This comment period aims to provide an
opportunity for greater stakeholder involvement in shaping the development
of the dot Africa initiative and to build a shared vision and
recommendations.
The  draft RNL policy can be found here:
http://www.africainonespace.org/downloads/Reserved%20Names%20Policy%2019%20June%202013.pdf
To post comments and suggestions please visit:
http://www.africainonespace.org/content.php?tag=25&title=Reserve+Name+Policy+for+the+.Africa+Registry
A record of all comments received will be filed with Dot Africa policy team
via e-mail or  the RNL portal. At the close of the public comment period,
the dot Africa policy team will review all comments and may include them in
the final drafts.

ISOC Kenya chapter and the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) will conduct
a 10 day mailing list discussion on the dot Africa reserve name policy. We
hope that at the end of the period we can submit comments from some Kenyan
stakeholders on the policy and also begin to discuss a possible reserve
name list for Kenya.


Here is an outline of the 10 day mailing list discussion period:


Day one: Introduction and overview

Day two: RNL categories

Day three: AUC governmental Category 1

Day Four; AUC governmental Category 2

Day five: AUC Governmental Category 3

Day Six: Offensive names  category

Day Seven:  Application and Registration Processes:

Day Seven: cont. Application, authentification processes

Day Eight: cont. Application, notification, registration and objections to
registrations processes

Day Nine: WhoIs and draft RNL for Kenya

Day Ten: Cont. Draft Reserve name list for Kenya and wrap up.

We look forwad to insightfull discussions.

Best Regards
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