Minds + Machines

1. Overall Support or Opposition

EOIs, also called Pre-Applications, are a proposal to kick-start the new gTLD process and give ICANN information about how many applications it's going to receive and what resources to devote to it. It will also provide practical data to deal with such questions as whether there are any issues with scaling up the root servers, or if there are going to be any applications that bring up public morality issues.

Here are the important points of the EOI proposal, which will be considered by the ICANN Board at its February 2010 meeting.

• Anyone who wants to apply for a new TLD will have to submit an EOI. If you don't, you can't apply.
• There is a hefty $55,000 fee for an EOI to discourage gaming of the process. The fee is applied to the application fee if you apply.
• The fee is refundable only if ICANN doesn't move forward with gTLDs by the end of 2011.
• The name of the applicant, the TLD being applied for, and contact information, will all be made public at the end of the EOI window.
• There is a proposed four-month communications plan to let people know about their chance to apply for a new TLD.

Minds + Machines supports the EOI process with very little change. Because we favor new gTLDs, we like that EOIs get the ball rolling and will dispel some of the theoretical problems that opponents of new TLDs say *could* happen. You can read more about EOIs and view existing comments to ICANN (for and against).

Do you support Expressions of Interest?

 YES NO

Explain your reasons for supporting or opposing the EOI process: (highly encouraged)

2. Submission Fee

The EOI fee is set at $55,000 in the latest draft. We support that fee because it will discourage deep-pocketed speculators from putting in "markers" to claim territory, and because it will count toward the entire $185,000 fee, which any legitimate applicant will have to pay. Opponents say that it's unfair to those with fewer resources.

What do you think about the $55,000 fee?

 Perfect Lower is more fair Higher, to discourage gaming

Provide a brief explanation of your choice: (highly encouraged)

3. Mandatory Submission

In our view, unless the EOI is required for those who want to go on to the full application later, very few people will bother, and ICANN will gather little or no information from EOIs. Those opposed don't like the pressure of declaring early, feeling it will give them a competitive disadvantage.

Do you support mandatory EOI submissions for new TLD applicants?

 YES NO

Provide a brief explanation of your choice: (highly encouraged)

4. Refund Policy

We believe that refunds should not be allowed except if ICANN doesn't follow through with new gTLDs by a certain date. If people can ask for a refund, they can game the system by putting "markers" in at $55,000 for many names, then get refunds for those that have competition. Those who favor refunds on demand say that the price is too high if there aren't refunds.

Do you support the proposed policy of very limited refunds?

 Under Limited Circumstance On Demand No Refunds Period

Provide a brief explanation of your choice: (highly encouraged)

5. Communications Period

The current plan calls for delaying EOIs until a 4-month (minimum) outreach campaign has been undertaken by ICANN. That's because some people believe that ICANN is an "insider's game" and that potential applicants who aren't ICANN participants need to be alerted. We believe that the process has been so protracted that everyone who is interested is already aware of the opportunity, and that the application is so difficult and technical that only insiders will be able to complete it anyway. Please indicate what you think.

Should ICANN conduct an outreach campaign, and if so for how long?

 Under 4 months 4 months More than 4 months

Provide any additional thoughts you have about ICANN's outreach plan: (highly encouraged)

6. Open Publication of EOI Results

The draft EOI model calls for open publication of EOI submissions: name of applicant, contact information, and the TLD they plan to apply for. We support open publication first of all because ICANN is supposed to be transparent unless there's a good reason not to be, and second so that contending parties for the same TLD can get to work fashioning a compromise. Those who oppose open publication are concerned that identifying their TLD will provide information to their competitors. (Publication would not help or hinder competing TLDs, because everyone's in the same boat. The concern is rather that non-TLD competitors would gain an advantage.) Please indicate what you think.

Should ICANN openly publish EOI results?

 YES, Everything YES, some exceptions NO

Provide any additional thoughts you have about publishing EOI results: (highly encouraged)

Prove that you're human by doing this little math test:

1+1=? 

By checking the box and clicking "submit," I understand that I am sending the contents of this form to ICANN's comment area for Expressions of Interest (EOI).

Note: You will need to confirm your submission by responding to the email ICANN sends you.