As the ICANN At-Large Representative from the Trinidad and Tobago Computer
Society (TTCS), I am
currently in Syndey, Austraila attending the 35th International Internet
Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN ; http://icann.org/ ) meeting as the secretariat for
the Latin American
and
Caribbean Regional At-Large Organisation (LACRALO ; http://lacralo.org/ ).

For a background explanation of ICANN, At-Large and Regional At-Large
Organisation :
http://ttcsweb.pbworks.com/ICANN-LACRALO
http://www.atlarge.icann.org/files/atlarge/briefing-note-participation-mechanism\
s-19feb09-en.pdf

Just like the ICANN Mexico meeting, I'll be attempting to twitter updates when I
can at
http://twitter.com/ttcs so do follow ttcs on twitter (you can subscribe to the
RSS feed if you
don't have a twitter account ; the RSS feed is
http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/14367036.rss

The TTCS website at http://www.ttcsweb.org/ also has the TTCS's twitter feed.

What's happening at ICANN Sydney
--------------------------------

The At-Large meeting schedule n ICANN Sydney can be found at
https://st.icann.org/alac/index.cgi?at_large_sydney_schedule?

and the full ICANN schedule can be found at
http://syd.icann.org/full-sched

There is a printed meeting guide available as a PDF :
http://syd.icann.org/files/meetings/sydney2009/sydney-meeting-guide.pdf

NOTE carefully, that Sydney is 14 hours AHEAD of Trinidad and Tobago time. Or
put another way,
local time in Trinidad and Tobago is 14 hours behind Sydney.

So, for example :
SUNDAY 21 June at 9am Syndey time is 7pm SATURDAY 20th June Trinidad and Tobago
time

You can use timeanddate.com to compare date and time differences between Sydney,
Austraila and
Trinidad and Tobago :
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meetingtime.html?month=6&day=21&year=2009&\
p1=240&p2=588&iv=0

Many of the ICANN meetings these sessions offer remote participation and
viewing. This year, many
sessions will utilise Adobe Connect. Read more at
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-20jun09-en.htm


new gTLD
--------

At the 35th ICANN Syndey meeting, there will several meetings and discussion on
the introduction of
new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs)
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm.

Some of the key related documents :

- In February 2009, the 2nd version of the Draft Applicant Guidebook for gTLD
( http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/draft-rfp-redline-18feb09-en.pdf )
was published.

The gTLD Applicant Guidebook details the process of applying for new generic top
level domains :
- the steps and procedures by which potential applicants can apply for a new
generic TLD.
- the procedures ICANN will follow in evaluating such applications
- dispute procedures between the applicant for a new gTLD and objector(s) which
oppose the gTLD.
- procedures when two or more applicants apply for an identical gTLD or for
confusingly similar
gTLDs
- the final steps for a new gTLD applicant after completing the evaluation
process (and resolving
any disputes and objections raised) ; these steps include a registry agreement
with ICANN,
technical testing, and fulfulling financial obligations.

- At Large Statement on the 2nd version of the Draft Applicant Guidebook, first
issued at ICANN
Mexico At-Large Summit and updated in April 2009 :
http://bit.ly/19BdzB

- The Implementation Recommendation team (IRT) report on trademark protection
issues on 29 May 2009
http://bit.ly/BEnPL and which out for public comment

- ICANN staff has published an analysis of the comments received on the 2nd
version of the Draft
Applicant Guidebook
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-31may09-en.htm


A 3rd version of the Draft Applicant Guidebook is scheduled to be published on
September 2009
with the final draft Applicant Guidebook published in December 2009.
It is expected that the first gTLD applications will be in the first quarter of
2010.


Other expected happenings at Syndey :

- International Domain Names or IDNs
A Draft Implementation Plan for IDN country code TLD Fast Track Process was also
released 29 May 2009 :
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-31may09-en.htm#memoranda
This is important for those coutries wanting to implement domain names in their
language other than
english.

- the new President and CEO of ICANN may be announced in Sydney :
http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-14jun09-en.htm

- Other discussion on any of the other ICANN policies out for public comment :
http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/


---
Dev Anand Teelucksingh