The New gTLD Program Ecosystem

By Annalisa Roger, Founder & CEO

When I consider the ICANN New gTLD Program, I see an “ecosystem” depending on a diversity of ICANN stakeholders including:

TLD consultancy and service businesses and their clients
IP / Trademark attorneys
New gTLD applicants including existing registries, large portfolio applicants, new applicant entities, and single string applicants
Registrars
Domain Developers
Large Corporations
Small and medium sized businesses
Non-profits and NGOs
Governments
Individuals and Internet users

This ecosystem is waiting and relying on the overall success of the New gTLD Program and the timely and efficient introduction of new gTLDs to the Internet root. ICANN has always been very clear on its mandate for the new gTLD program; it must bring to the Internet increased innovation, competition, consumer choice, and trust. ICANN must serve the public’s interest by delivering benefits and steering clear of potential detriments to communities and users. Should ICANN succeed, these many businesses and stakeholders, as well as new ones, will grow and meet success in the world marketplace. It is paramount that ICANN’s new gTLD program be deemed a success for ALL.

ICANN stakeholders gathered at a meeting in San Francisco

There is strength in an ecosystem. The most successful systems are inclusive of diversity, and are robust, resilient, and sustainable. Everything and everyone serves a purpose and together can effect positive change either directly or indirectly. The Internet industry and ICANN community took an active role in bringing about ICANN’s New gTLD Program, contributing heavily to its planned outcome of success. The community again worked hard to eliminate the previous system for batching with digital archery. The community continues to provide input for fair and equitable solutions regarding the batch timing and “first to market” issues. Fortunately, it is evident that this broad Internet ecosystem at ICANN is viable and positively affected by multi-stakeholder community input yielding the best for all interests.

In the case of .green, only one out of four applicants in the contention set originates from the string’s target community; without a portfolio of strings to look out for, DotGreen offers widespread public benefit and philanthropy relevant to the string name and designed to promote the green movement.

I feel confident that ICANN community members familiar with the new gTLD process, and especially those who know and appreciate all the .green applicants, and their intent, will see the need for a balance in the program between self interest of each applicant and what is best for the New gTLD Program as a whole – and what a balanced New gTLD Program could bring to the whole system and everyone involved. I hope there is room for portfolio applicants AND single string applicants such as DotGreen Community (which would naturally disappear from the ICANN multi-stakeholder model if denied delegation) to both live in the New gTLD Program. One would expect the Internet community would choose to support ICANN’s core values in serving the public interest, yielding greater benefit for everyone in the Internet ecosystem. DotGreen has revealed that its primary purpose is to support and add meaning and value to the global green movement. Delegation of a social value based string like .green to a member of its target audience, DotGreen Community, Inc., will truly bring GREEN together with the Internet in a positive manner.

I invite Internet industry and green community members to add polite and constructive comments about the .green TLD to ICANN via their public comment page. As a community, we need to see the larger picture, and consider what is best for the Internet ecosystem, ICANN, the new gTLD program, the .green TLD, the green movement, green community, green economy, and our planet and future generations.

The new gTLD process and DotGreen welcome community insights and public perspectives for evaluators to see. Let ICANN know if DotGreen will provide public benefit, a fresh voice to ICANN discussion, and adequate inclusive measures to ensure the .green TLD serves the best interests of ALL people.

Comment deadline is September 26, 2012

To submit a comment, please use the link below. You will need to create an account, choose DotGreen Community Inc., choose “green” as the string, under “Panel / Objection Ground”, click on “Evaluation Panel” and “Registry Services” and then submit your comments.

https://gtldcomment.icann.org/comments-feedback/applicationcomment/login