Public Comment
Introduction of Two-Character Domain Names in the New gTLD Namespace
Open Date
12 June 2014 23:59 UTC
Close Date
10 July 2014 23:59 UTC
Staff Report Due
31 July 2014 23:59 UTC
Brief Overview
To obtain community input on the proposed amendments to the Registry Agreements of several registry operators to implement a new registry service which would permit the introduction of two-character domain names for registration in the new gTLD namespace resulting from the recently processed Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP) requests submitted by several registries.
Section I: Description and Explanation
Specification 5 (Schedule of Reserved Names), Section 2 of the New gTLD Registry Agreement addresses reservations of two-character labels. As provided in Specification 5:
All two-character ASCII labels shall be withheld from registration or allocated to Registry Operator at the second level within the TLD. Such labels may not be activated in the DNS, and may not be released for registration to any person or entity other than Registry Operator, provided that such two-character label strings may be released to the extent that Registry Operator reaches agreement with the related government and country-code manager of the string as specified in the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 standard. The Registry Operator may also propose the release of these reservations based on its implementation of measures to avoid confusion with the corresponding country codes, subject to approval by ICANN.
The New gTLD registry operators noted below submitted requests to ICANN through the Registry Services Evaluation Process (RSEP) to release certain two-character strings. In total, the requests concern 148 New gTLDs. Implementation of the proposal would require an amendment to the Exhibit A of the respective Registry Agreements, which is being posted for public comment.
Proposal |
TLD |
Registry Name |
Documents |
2014011 | Multiple TLDs | Donuts, Inc.; submitted by Binky Lake, LLC* | Binky Lake, LLC Request 09 May 2014 [PDF, 19 KB] |
2014010 | kred | KredTLD Pty Ltd | KredTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB] |
2014009 | best | BestTLD Pty Ltd | BestTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB] |
2014008 | ceo | CEOTLD Pty Ltd | CeoTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB] |
2014007 | wiki | Top Level Design, LLC | Top Level Design LLC Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 196 KB] |
2014006 | globo | Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A | Globo Comunicação e Participações SA Request 05 February 2014 [PDF, 18 KB] |
*Note: Binky Lake, LLC has submitted a RSEP request on behalf of Donuts, Inc. for 143 gTLDs.
As part of these requests, each registry operator described which two-character domain names in which it would offer these registrations. These RSEP requests were posted for public information on the Registry Service Evaluation Process webpage, available at https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/rsep-2014-02-19-en.
See below for a summary of each RSEP request:
-
.ventures - request made 9 May 2014 by Binky Lake, LLC (on behalf of 143 Donuts, Inc. operated TLDs). The proposal requests the release of all two-character ASCII labels that do not appear on the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 list and for which there is no corresponding government or country-code operator. To avoid user confusion with the two-character country codes, the registry operator noted in its RSEP that "the release of these two-character ASCII labels poses no risk of confusion with any country-code, as this initial request relates only to two character labels where there is no corresponding country code and no relevant government or corresponding country-code operator. Therefore, the restrictions placed on this set of two-character ASCII labels are unwarranted and should be lifted forthwith."
-
.kred - request made 11 March 2014 by PeopleBrowser. which proposes to amend contractual language and implement an equitable phased allocation program that will permit the introduction of two-character domains, while still reserving two-letter domains that correspond to the two-letter country code names found on the ISO-3166 list.
-
.best - request made 11 March 2014 by PeopleBrowser, which proposes to amend contractual language and implement an equitable phased allocation program that will permit the introduction of two-character domains, while still reserving two-letter domains that correspond to the two-letter country code names found on the ISO-3166 list.
-
.ceo - request made 11 March 2014 by PeopleBrowser, which proposes to amend contractual language and implement an equitable phased allocation program that will permit the introduction of two-character domains, while still reserving two-letter domains that correspond to the two-letter country code names found on the ISO-3166 list.
-
.wiki - request made 11 March 2014 by Top Level Design, LLC. The proposal requests approval of the release of all two-letter language identifiers used for the language versions of Wikipedia. Wikipedia's codes are all based off the internationally recognized ISO 639-1 and ISO 639-2 lists. The former is made up of 2 letter codes while the latter are 3 letter codes. In the proposal, the registry operator notes that there may be some overlap between the two-character labels proposed to be released, and the country codes on the ISO 3166-1 list. The registry operator states that, "it should be noted that they are directly taken from another internationally developed and recognized list, the ISO 369-1 list of 2-letter language identifiers. As their name implies, both of these lists were developed through the representative and consensus policies of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), headquartered in Geneva and founded in 1947. Thus, the countries whose ccTLDs may be affected by this initiative, as designated by their ISO 3166-1 list, are already well aware that these ISO 3166-1 identifiers correspond or overlap with an identifier on the ISO 369-1 list; our research shows that this has not been a major issue of concern in the past, and the ongoing, simultaneous use of both lists further implies no such issue."
-
.globo - request made 5 February 2014 by Globo Comunicação e Participações S.A. The proposal requests approval of the registration of non-two-letter two-character domains, which are domains that are composed by two characters that are not letters or by two characters where only one of the character is a letter, provided they are valid according to RFC 2181 and all other applicable RFCs, STDs and BCPs.
As provided by the Registry Services Evaluation Policy, ICANN has undertaken a preliminary determination on whether the proposals might raise significant competition, security or stability issues. ICANN's preliminary review (based on the information provided) did not identify any such issues for these requests.
To note, in its 27 March 2014 Singapore Communiqué, the GAC noted that it "discussed the Brand Registry Group proposal for a streamlined process under an addendum to the Registry Agreement for the approval of country names and 2-letter and character codes at the second level." The GAC stated that it "has no major concerns about brand owners seeking approval for such names," but that the approval should be "done directly with the countries concerned rather than through a GAC-level operational process." The GAC noted that "individual GAC members could assist with proposals relevant to their particular country if requested," and the GAC suggested that "consideration be given to establishing a register of countries that do not require individual requests to be made." The GAC will be informed of this public comment period. Subsequent to the GAC's Singapore Communiqué, on 8 August 2014, the GAC Chair submitted a letter to the ICANN Board noting that some GAC members have raised concerns regarding the RSEP requests to release two-character labels, and as a result the GAC "intends to consider the matter at its next meeting during ICANN 51." The GAC requested that the Board take this timing into account as it considers the RSEP requests, and to continue to keep the GAC appraised of similar requests.
Section II: Background
In 2006, .name requested for a limited release of reserved two-character names which ICANN staff performed an initial technical evaluation, and referred the matter to the Registry Services Technical Evaluation Panel (RSTEP) process. The RSTEP panel considered the security and stability impacts of the proposal, which focused on unexpected responses being received from the DNS for both existing and non-existing domains, as well as simply user confusion where the idea of two letter second-level domains is unfamiliar. Based on the report of the RSTEP Panel, internal experts and other public comments, there were no significant security and stability issues related to introduction of the proposal, and the board adopted a resolution on 16 January 2007 to authorize ICANN to amend the .name Registry Agreement to implement the proposed registry services
From 2007 to 2012, ICANN processed various RSEP proposals related to the release of two-character labels for 11 TLDs (.jobs, .coop, .mobi, .biz, .pro, .cat, .info, .travel, .tel, .asia, and .org).
Approving the amendments to the identified Registry Agreements to implement the proposed new registry service described in the six RSEP proposals would be the first of its kind in the new gTLD space.
On 8-Jul-2014, a similar public comment period on RSEP proposals for the introduction of two-character domain names was opened. There are six RSEP proposals for the following twelve gTLDs: .deals, xn--fjq720a, .city, .xyz, .college, .gop, .trade, .webcam, .bid, .healthcare, .world, and .band. The public comment forum for these six requests can be found here: https://www.icann.org/public-comments/two-char-new-gtld-2014-07-08-en.
On 23-Jul-2014, a similar public comment period on RSEP proposals for the introduction of two-character domain names was opened. There are seven RSEP proposals for the following thirty four (34) gTLDs: .luxury, .wang, xn--3bSt00M, xn--6qQ986B3xL, xn--czRu2D, xn--45Q11C, .build, .ren, .pizza, .restaurant, .gifts, .sarl, xn--55qx5d, xn--io0a7i, and 20 TLDs associated with Top Level Domain Holdings Limited. The public comment forum for these six requests can be found here: https://www.icann.org/public-comments/two-char-new-gtld-2014-07-23-en
On 19 August 2014, a similar public comment period regarding four more RSEP proposals and amendments for the introduction of two-character domain names was opened. The four RSEP proposals are for the following four gTLDs: .sohu, .immo, .saarland, .club. The public comment forum for these four requests can be found here: https://www.icann.org/public-comments/two-char-new-gtld-2014-08-19-en
On 12 September 2014, a similar public comment period regarding five more RSEP proposals and amendments for the introduction of two-character domain names was opened. The five RSEP proposals are for the following five gTLDs: .jetzt, .global, .neustar, .kiwi, .berlin. The public comment forum for these five requests can be found here: https://www.icann.org/public-comments/two-char-new-gtld-2014-09-12-en
Section III: Relevant Resources
- RSEP Webpage: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/rsep-2014-02-19-en
- RSEP Policy: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/policy-bd-2012-02-25-en
- Board Resolution (16 Jan 2007): https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/prelim-report-2007-01-16-en
- RSTEP Report (4 Dec 2006): https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/rstep-gnr-proposal-review-team-report-04dec06-en.pdf [PDF, 784 KB]
- .globo RSEP Request: Globo Comunicação e Participações SA Request 05 February 2014 [PDF, 18 KB]
- .globo Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Rubens Kuhl 16 May 2014 [PDF, 435 KB]
- .wiki RSEP Request: Top Level Design LLC Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 196 KB]
- .wiki Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Raymond King 16 May 2014 [PDF, 435 KB]
- .kred RSEP Request: KredTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB]
- .kred Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Michael Deparini 16 May 2014 [PDF, 435 KB]
- .best RSEP Request: BestTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB]
- .best Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Michael Deparini 16 May 2014 [PDF, 435 KB]
- .ceo RSEP Request: CeoTLD Pty Ltd Request 11 March 2014 [PDF, 18 KB]
- .ceo Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Michael Deparini 16 May 2014 [PDF, 435 KB]
- Multiple Donuts TLDs RSEP Request: Binky Lake, LLC Request 09 May 2014 [PDF, 19 KB]
- Multiple Donuts TLDs Public Comment Notification: Letter from Registry Services Team to Jonathon Nevett 16 May 2014 [PDF, 470 KB]
- Letter from the GAC regarding requests for release of two-character labels as second level domains in New gTLDs [PDF, 58 KB] (8 August 2014)
Section IV: Additional Information
- .globo Proposed Amendment [PDF, 70 KB]
- .wiki Proposed Amendment [PDF, 72 KB]
- .kred Proposed Amendment [PDF, 108 KB]
- .best Proposed Amendment [PDF, 115 KB]
- .ceo Proposed Amendment [PDF, 121 KB]
- Multiple Donuts TLDs Proposed Amendment [PDF, 77 KB]
- TLD List (Donuts Entities) for Two-Character Label Amendment [PDF, 83 KB]
Comments Closed
Report of Public Comments