Deletes task force -- Washington Post domain name expires

[Adam Peake]

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16984-2004Feb5?language=printer>

I'd like our names council representatives please ask what has been
done about the deletes task force recommendations
<http://www.dnso.org/dnso/notes/20030617.DeletesTF-report.html>
particularly:

3.1.4  Registrars shall provide notice to each new registrant
describing the details of their deletion and auto-renewal policy
including the expected time at which a non-renewed domain name would
be deleted relative to the domain¹s expiration date, or a date range
not to exceed ten days in length.

If a registrar makes any material changes to its deletion policy
during the period of the registration agreement, it must make at
least the same effort to inform the registrant of the changes as it
would to inform the registrant of other material changes to the
registration agreement (as defined in clause 3.7.7 of the registrars
accreditation agreement)."

3.1.5  If a registrar operates a website for domain name registration
or renewal, details of its deletion and auto-renewal policies must be
clearly displayed on the website.

3.1.6  If a registrar operates a website for domain registration or
renewal, it should state, both at the time of registration and in a
clear place on its website, any fee charged for the recovery of a
domain name during the Redemption Grace Period.

  ---

ICANN Board resolution [03.163] October 31.
"ICANN President and General Counsel are authorized to take steps to
implement those policy recommendations by consulting as appropriate
with registry operators, registrars, and other knowledgeable parties
and through amendments and notices, as appropriate, pursuant to
ICANN's agreements with gTLD registry operators and registrars."

  ---

Looks to me like nothing's been done. Please remind the Council that
part of the thinking behind this policy, particularly 3.1.4, was the
hope of educating consumers about some of the basics of domain names
so they (we) didn't mess up as often as happens now (e.g. not owned,
"rented", you need to renew or risk loosing. Manage names carefully,
appropriate to value not price.) This wasn't just intended for the
sake of consumers. According to the Washington Post story, after
sending email reminders --assume automatic?-- NSI sent 2 reminders by
postal mail. This has to be a drain on resources that's way out of
proportion to the revenue from the name.

Council might like to consider monitoring implementation of consensus
policies. The PDP has strict (much too tight?) timelines for
development of policy, but there doesn't seem to be anything guiding
implementation (except the Board to recommend as appropriate
<http://gnso.icann.org/council/new-procedures.shtml#14>). There's no
follow-up and monitoring by the council to ensure a consensus policy
is implemented within a reasonable time. Suggest after board
resolution, progress on implementation of a policy is reported to the
Council at regular intervals, perhaps 3 months, 6 months, 1 year.

Thanks,

Adam

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