FSC Pushes for Transparency in ICANN's .XXX Review Process

CANOGA PARK, Calif. — The Free Speech Coalition this week formally asked ICANN for transparency in the application process for the .XXX sTLD proposed by domain registrar ICM.

The request, spelled out in a letter, was one of two documents sent to the web domain regulator.

The FSC also filed a so-called Documentary Information Disclosure Policy (DIDP) request with ICANN to request information pertaining to the application process.

The FSC said in a release Thursday that, "as a 'sponsored' TLD, the success of ICM’s application requires the support of adult industry stakeholders. FSC opposes the .XXX sTLD and has urged adult online business owners to voice their opposition to ICANN."

Further, the FSC said its actions this week follow what it contends are "inconsistencies in information to be disclosed to stakeholders during the ongoing application process."

“This isn’t a done deal,” FSC Executive Director Diane Duke said. “There are still a lot of questions to be answered and barriers to overcome. FSC and the adult entertainment industry will make sure that our voice is heard in the process.”

In the letter, Duke requests that ICANN:

  • Verify that companies which ICM has listed in support are viable adult businesses;
  • Verify that companies listed in support in fact do support ICM’s current application for a .XXX sTLD;
  • Determine how many pre-registrations claimed by ICM are in fact defensive registrations; and,
  • Determine how many pre-registrations are registrars or companies hoping to re-sell domain names.
With the DIDP request, the adult trade group asked for information relative to International Foundation for Online Responsibility, known as IFFOR, the governing body proposed by ICM to set policy for .XXX sTLDs.

Specifically, the FSC asked for:

  • A list of the IFFOR Board members;
  • A list of proposed members of the Policy Council;
  • IFFOR’s business plan, including projections over a five-year period with 125,000 initial registrations;
  • A list of .XXX sTLD pre-registrants who have been identified to ICANN; and,
  • ICM’s proof of sponsorship community support as submitted to ICANN.
The FSC says ICANN is obligated to respond to the DIDP request for information within 30 days of filing.

The procedure for approval of the .XXX sTLD was announced by the ICANN Board of Directors after their June meeting in Brussels.

The current process includes a 30-day public commentary period that started on Aug 24. It also required posting of information from ICM’s revised registry agreement on the ICANN website.

Duke also also requested that the public commentary period be extended to 30 days after resolution of the DIDP request.

The FSC said that industry stakeholders who would like to voice their opposition to the proposed .XXX sTLD can submit an email to ICANN here.

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