CENTR Statement on ICANN Reform
European Registries issue statement to Department of Commerce
CENTR, the Council of European National Top Level Domain Registries, on behalf of its members, has issued a position statement to the US Department of Commerce (30 July 2002) calling for a lightweight ICANN. These country code Top Level Domain (ccTLDs) Registries have already rejected the ICANN Evolution and Reform Blue Print as published on 21 June 2002.
Dr Willie Black, Chairman of CENTR and Executive Chairman of Nominet UK, a key supporter of the statement, said: "ICANN's prime function is to co-ordinate the world root. It should act as a resource to assist ccTLDs with the development of voluntary policies covering issues such as dispute resolution, WHOIS and data escrow policies. We are lobbying for a lightweight ICANN that will help us in the development of these best practices".
On the thorny issue of re-delegation, the authors believe that while ICANN has a role to play in implementing a request for re-delegation, actual cases should be decided by the Local Internet Community in consultation with local governments, not by ICANN itself.
The ccTLD community, which includes CENTR members and Nominet UK, have set up regional working parties with the Government Advisory Committee to translate its vision into detailed proposals.