ICANN endorses Name Collision Occurrence Management Framework

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has endorsed the Name Collision Occurrence Management Framework by the Board’s New Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD) Programme Committee (NGPC), reports ITRealms.

This is coming as ITRealms gathered that ICANN has introduced a special Internet Protocol (IP) address (127.0.53.53) to alert system administrators of potential issue.

The framework implementation requirements were developed with input from many sources including the ICANN community, a report published by JAS Global Advisors LLC, and advice from the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC).

Also, ITRealms gathered that the framework is designed to mitigate the impact of name collisions in the domain name system (DNS), which typically occur when fully qualified domain names conflict with similar domain names used in private networks. When this occurs, users can be taken to an unintended Web page or encounter an error message.

According to Akram Atallah, president of ICANN’s Global Domains Division, noted that to address this issue, the framework calls for registry operators to use a technique called “controlled interruption” to alert system administrators that there may be an issue in their network. Specifically, an IPv4 address – 127.0.53.53 – will appear in system logs, enabling a quick diagnosis and remediation.

“We now have a well-defined methodology for mitigating name collisions for delegated top-level domain names and a path forward for registries to unblock certain second-level domains in their list,” Atallah said, stressing these operational processes, which were developed in conjunction with the multistakeholder community, will help to ensure the security of the domain name system.

Atallah noted that ICANN will provide information to and work with the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) to consider whether policy work on developing a long-term plan to manage gTLD name collisions issues should be undertaken.

Meanwhile, ICANN as gathered by ITRealms, will be holding webinars to discuss details of the Name Collision Occurrence Management Framework and answer questions on 12 August 2014 – Session 1 will take place from 01:00-02:30 UTC and Session 2 take place from 15:00-16:30 UTC.

Remmy Nweke

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ICANN board on new gTLD writes NCSG on INGO protection

ITRealms:

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Number (ICANN) board on new Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Programme Committee (NGPC) has written the Non-Commercial Users Stakeholder Group (NCSG) on the need for the protection of the International Non-Government Organisation (INGO) identifiers in all gTLDs, reports ITRealms.

The letter from the NGPC regarding protection of IGO-INGO identifiers in all gTLDs, sighted by ITRealms dated June 16, 2014 and addressed to Jonathan by the chairperson of the Board New Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Programme Committee, Cherine Chalaby, dated June 16, 2014, said it was to provide an update on the ongoing work in response to the GNSO policy recommendations regarding Protection of IGO-INGO Identifiers in all gTLDs and the advice from the Government Advisory Council (GAC) in its Buenos Aires Communiqué addressing the same topic.

ITRealms reports that on 30 April 2014, the ICANN board adopted the GNSO Council’s policy recommendations on IGO-INGO protections that were not inconsistent with the GAC’s advice, and requested additional time to consider the remaining policy recommendations that are inconsistent with the GAC’s advice on the same topic.

“The Board committed to facilitate discussions among the relevant parties to reconcile any remaining differences between the policy recommendations and the GAC advice on the topic, and previously tasked the NGPC to help with this process,” Chalaby said.

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Pix: Cherine Chalaby, NGPC chairman

ICANN board rectifies NGPC resolutions

ITRealms:

The board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has rectified the resolution of the New Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Programme Committee (NGPC), reports ITRealms.

The Board also reaffirms to ITRealms, its rationale for resolutions 2012.04.10.01-2012.04.10.04, stating in order to have efficient meetings and take appropriate actions with respect to the New gTLD Programme for the current round of the programme and as related to the Applicant Guidebook.

According to the Board, it has decided to create the "New gTLD Programme Committee" in accordance with Article XII of the Bylaws and has delegated decision making authority to the Committee as it relates to the New gTLD Programme for the current round of the programme which commenced in January 2012 and for the related Applicant Guidebook that applies to this current round.

ITRealms equally gathered that establishing the NGPC without conflicted members, and delegating to it decision making authority, has provided some distinct advantages, including helping eliminate any uncertainty for conflicted Board members with respect to attendance at Board meetings and workshops since the New gTLD Programme topics could be dealt with at the Committee level.

Further, ITRealms reports NGPC chaired by Cherine Chalaby has provided the community with a transparent view into the Board's commitment to dealing with actual, potential or perceived conflicts.

ITRealms it was learnt that the Board Governance Committee (BGC) Subcommittee for Conflicts & Ethics on new gTLDs initially evaluated all board members' statements of interest relating to new gTLDs when the membership of the NGPC was first established.

The Subcommittee ITRealms reports, continued to review new Board members' new gTLD related statements of interest and any changes in previously made statements of interest for the purposes of determining if any Board member including voting Directors and no-voting Liaisons, has an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest such they should not be a member of the NGPC.

ITRealms recalls that when the Subcommittee first evaluated the statements of interest, Steve Crocker, ICANN board chairman, was determined to be conflicted, but due to his recently reported some changes to his statement of interest relating to new gTLDs and the Subcommittee has thoroughly evaluated those changes.

“The Subcommittee has determined the Steve Crocker is no longer generally conflicted as it relates to new gTLDs. As such, the Subcommittee has recommended that Dr. Crocker be made a voting member of the NGPC. The Board agrees,” part of the resolution made available to ITRealms read.

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Pix: Cherine Chalaby, Chairman NGPC