Status:
IGF Theme(s) for workshop: Internet Governance for Development [IG4D] cross cutting priority
Main theme question address by workshop: Question 2 of IG4D Thematic Cluster 1 "Pending Expansion of the Top Level Domain Space"
Concise description of the proposed workshop:
The ICANN new gTLD program undoubtedly is a big topic within the industry, yet there seems a lack of measures taken to facilitate the engagement of the community. Keeping in mind that Internet should remain open and diverse, we believe the gTLD process should also be the same which allows different communities, NGOs and businesses to participate.
This workshop aims to find out the difficulties encountered by some communities in the gTLD process and the relative support needed. For instance, our discussion will be mainly focusing on the following aspects:
1. Definition of “Developing World” –
Entities from developing world are always given priorities. However, there are many minorities or underserved communities that are trans-national and could not be clearly defined as from the developing world. Taking the kids community as an example, they are also relatively underdeveloped in the Internet world.
2. Funding Support -
NGOs or some communities may have a low economic capability. In addition, given their nature of not-for-profit, it is also common for them to come across difficulties in getting commercial funding.
3. Prior Examples -
Many NGOs or communities are still unfamiliar with Internet, let alone gTLD. Therefore we have to investigate if there is any way to facilitate their understanding of domain and gTLD in the first place.
4. Industry Knowledge -
Support from the industry players is crucial given the complexity and the many expertise required of the gTLD process.
Background Paper:
Name of the organiser(s) of the workshop and their affiliation to various stakeholder groups:
Elaine Cheng, DotKids Foundation, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific
Have you, or any of your co-organisers, organised an IGF workshop before?: No
Please provide link(s) to workshop(s) or report(s):
Provide the names and affiliations of the panellists you are planning to invite:
Ms. Avri Doria, Researcher at Luleå University of Technology, Northern Europe - Academic (Confirmed)
Mr. Koffi Fabrice DJOSSOU, DotAfrica, Africa - Internet Industry (Invited)
Mr. Andrei Kolesnikov, CEO of Coordination Centre of RU, Russia - Internet Industry (Confirmed)
Mr. Yang Yu, CONAC, Asia Pacific - Government (Invited)
Ms. Sun Yong Ge, Internet Society of China, Asia Pacific - Civil Society (Invited)
Name of Remote Moderator(s):