–Finally, two other issues: the City of New York is applying for the .nyc generic top-level domain (TLD) with ICANN. The company selected is Neustar. I testified on the topic on March 23, 2012 at DoITT but there will be more hearings on the issue. And, the City of New York will soon hold hearings on pay phones on our streets. A company or companies will be selected to replace Verizon as the operator of all most payphones. DoITT will schedule hearings on this topic as well. What do you think? Info: Will Colegrove wcolegrove@council.nyc.gov
A public hearing on NYC’s allocation of the .nyc contract to Neustar was held on Friday March 23 2012, in Brooklyn.
Information Technology and Telecommunications Public Hearing
Notice is hereby given that a Contract Public Hearing will be held on Friday, March 23, 2012 at DoITT, 2 MetroTech Center, 4th Floor, Brooklyn NY 11209, commencing at 2:00 P.M. on the following:
In the matter of a proposed contract between the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications and Neustar located at 21575 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA 20166, to apply for, and if obtained, operate, administer, manage and market nyc. The term of the contract shall be for five (5) years with two (2) five (5) year renewal options at the City’s discretion. The contract is a Revenue contract, PIN: 85812P0001.
Tom Lowenhaupt of ConnectingNYC in a post DoITT: Submit Application THEN Ask Public In response reports that, at a recent press conference and in response to his questioning, NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications (DoITT) Commissioner Carole Wallace Post confirmed the City’s intention to file an application for a .nyc generic top level domain (gTLD) within the current window, which ends April 12.
When ICANN, at their Singapore meeting in Jun 2011, voted to approve the current round of new gTLD applications, board member Sebastien Bachollet strongly suggested that a second round be announced as soon as possible to ease the rush.
On Feb 12 2012 the ICANN board voted to “reaffirm” a second round, however no date was announced. The resolution noted:
These prerequisites include specifically addressing the GAC requirement for assessment of trademark protections and root zone operation.
On the former issue ICANN has opened a public comment period specifically on the need, perceived by some, for defensive registrations at the top level.
In his response there, Antony Van Couvering of Minds+Machines estimates that it will be a minimum of three years before another round is initiated.
)Following the US Senate Commerce Committee hearing on new TLD expansion on December 8 2011, Dr. Olivier MJ Crépin-Leblond, Chair of the At-Large Advisory Council (ALAC), which represents the views of Internet users within the ICANN multistakeholder process, and Beau Brendler, Chair of the North American Regional At-Large Organization (NARALO) have written to Committee Chair Sen. John Rockefeller to depict the testimony of former ICANN Chair Esther Dyson as “out of date”.
we found Ms. Esther Dyson’s description of the ALAC circa 2003 extremely out-ofdate. Her testimony depicted the ALAC prior to the establishment of the five Regional At-Large Organizations (RALOs) which are designed to provide a structured input first to the ALAC and then to ICANN from Internet end-users around the world.
and
Today, the ALAC is able to comment on any aspect of the new gTLD program, which it has on several occasions, as well as any other program or process at ICANN.
It’s not all criticism, though..
However, we fully support her overall message for the public to pay attention to the workings of ICANN, and that ICANN’s door is open.
The letter goes on to emphasize that public interest should be the touchstone of Internet policy, and appeals to the Senator for assistance in strengthening that priority by encouraging membership in At-Large by interested parties. (One way would be to join ISOC-NY since we are an At-Large Structure! However NARALO, uniquely amongst the regions, does accept individual members.)
iBreakfast is presenting “About the “Domain” Conference: The Era of New TLDs this Wednesday Aug 3 2011 at Herrick, Feinstein LLC in NYC. A special discount code allowing 50% off the normal admission of $60 is offered to ISOC-NY members and guests.
What: “About the “Domain” Conference: The Era of New TLDs When: Weds Aug 3 2011 8.00am – 11.30am EDT Where: Herrick Feinstein Auditorium, Midtown – 2 Park Ave. @32 St NYC Who: Register at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1919183329 Discount code: ISNY ($30 + $2.49 fee) Webcast: No live webcast. Will be taped. TwitteriBreakfast
Wendy Seltzer, Esther Dyson, and Annalisa Roger, representatives of dotgay, .berlin, .xxx, plus major registries, registrars are among the participants who will discuss how the Internet will be impacted by the coming new TLD rollout. Topics include:
The Impact of New TLDs on .Com, .Org, and Country-Code Domain Extensions;
Brands and SMB Opportunities to Increase Brand Identity and Optimize Marketing and Need to Act Defensively;
The Progression of World Cities gaining Sovereign Digital Land to Strengthen Public and Private Sectors and Global Relations;
The Voice of Cultural and Interest Groups to be Heard Locally, Regionally, and Globally
When ICANN, at their Singapore meeting in Jun 2011, 
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