[ncdnhc-discuss] FYI : IDRC requests a six month extension in the process of .ORG reassignment

[Chun Eung Hwi]

Head Office / Siege social : PO Box / BP 8500, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9
(250 Albert Street / 250, rue Albert) www.idrc.ca www.crdi.ca
Phone / tel. : (1-613) 236-6 163 ext. 2400 Fax / telec. : (1-613) 567-7749
Email / courriel : rfuchs at idrc.ca
Regional Offices / Bureaux regionaux : Cairo / Le Caire . Dakar .
Montevideo . Nairobi . New Delhi . Singapore / Singapour

April 18, 2002


Vinton G. Cerf
Chairman of the Board
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
4676 Admiralty Way, Suite 330
Marina del Rey, CA 90292-6601 USA
Phone +1.310.823.9358
Fax +1.310.823.8649


Dear Vinton,

This letter is in regard to the reassignment of the .ORG top level domain.
The Registry Agreement for .ORG stipulates that the current registry
maintainers divest themselves of .ORG by December 31st of this year. In
real terms, we have been informed by collaborating NGO organizations, that
the deadline for organizing bids is a real challenge, especially for
developing world participation. Our organization has two concerns
regarding this process.

We are concerned that the process to determine a successor to the current
.ORG registry operator is proceeding too quickly for organizations in the
developing world. We are also concerned that the .ORG changes are taking
place in conjunction with ongoing ICANN reform and that, as a result,
there is a risk that a range of potential successor operators of .ORG are
reluctant to become involved in the bidding process. To ensure that a
thorough and meaningful process of coalition building among international
organizations is able to include developing world participants we believe
that a six month extension in the process would be advisable. 

For over 30 years our work at International Development Research Centre
(IDRC) has taken place through partnerships with a wide network of
Southern organisations. IDRC has followed Internet governance in the
context of our ICT for Development programing which supports research on
telecentre, public policy and related connectivity issues.

It is our experience that effective processes of participation and
consultation take considerable time to organize. In order for the .ORG RFP
process to attract the best selection of potential successor operators we
respectfully request an extension to the process. We believe that this
would be best for all parties involved.


Sincerely, 

Richard Fuchs, Director of Program Area 

Information and Communication Technologies for Development, IDRC 

c.c.: M. Stuart Lynn, President and CEO, Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers Louis Touton, Vice President, Secretary and General
Counsel, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Philip
Sheppard, Chair DNSO Names Council