He gave a report of his global trips that
he has managed to be on these past months and especially mentioned Africa, the
continent that ICANN has worked hard and has put steps forward to increase
relations and activities that hopefully will help increase the DNS business
sector that is still growing. This he says has given him incredible enthusiasm
for the new gTLD program.
The CEO talked about how it’s going to
affect the world and the anticipation with which all stakeholders were looking
forward to an expanded DNS, like entrepreneurs looking to expand their ideas,
the commitment of those who want to express themselves in their own scripts
like the Chinese and Arabic users, governments looking to expand their economies
in the planet.
Kenya was mentioned as an example of a
country that has focused on the internet as a key element of its economies,
where 20% of its GDP is based on ICT a remarkable state, South Africa known for
mining is also big on the internet business.
He was pleased that ICANN is on track and within its
timelines ,mentioning the Drawing URS Contention sets and this week the first
batch of the initial evaluation panel results were released in order of the
prioritization draw.
The trademark clearing house he said is also ready to take
on the registration of the new trademarks
which is expected to begin on March 26, 2013. The Strawman solution and
the immense numbers of public comments that aided in making decisions that
affect the process, such as implementing the 30 day period for each sunrise of
a new gTLD, among others
He promised that all milestones will be in place and that
all the target dates will be achieved. That will culminate to the delegation of
gTLDs on April 23rd, he requested that there is need for a common
stand that will help in hitting the set targets
He concludes that “the excitement about the new gTLDs is
global and is upon us and I urge all of us to keep that focus in mind and to
work together without cutting corners but rather with collegiality, with genuine
common interest, always from the bottom up, always involving everyone with
public interest and the growth in DNS
balanced properly so that we can be proud of what we achieved in these weeks”
