1. Key Policy Questions and Expectations:
Policy Questions
(i) What should ICANN and other bodies be doing to enhance the multi-lingual aspects of the Internet through the DNS;
(ii) What effective measures should be taken to ensure Universal Acceptance of all domain names;
(iii) What are the next steps for all parties to work together to enhance Universal Acceptance
2. Summary of Issues Discussed:
The discussion clearly demonstrated the problem faced by both those advocating for an Internet with diverse linguistic content and those involved in advoating for Universal Acceptance. Essentially there is market failure as there is insufficient incentives for developers, operators or DNS players to make their systems UA/IDN friendly given the low take up for such names, itself because of lack of UA. Latter demostatred by dreaful fact that 81% of IDNs taken up "parked".
3. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward:
The Session clearly demostated the problem, the mechansims for addressing it, not least through the UA Steering Group and the focus needed on the public sector. Was clear that "market"; or guidance and advice are not going to solve the market failure.
4. Other Initiatives Addressing the Session Issues:
The overall problem of poor take up of IDNs and critical need for Universal Acceptance are being addressed by the UASG (as described by Dr Data in Session) and the Dynamic Coalition on DNS issues (DC-DNSI) that has taken up the cuase of Universal Acceptance.
5. Making Progress for Tackled Issues:
It was identified that both a bottom-up and top-down appraoch is needed. In latter case the use of porcurement and standards are one potential vehicle for mandating service porvision that recognises all domain names.
6. Estimated Participation:
There were eight on-line Patticpants (2 women) and around 80 present (roughly 35-40% women.
7. Reflection to Gender Issues:
No specific gender issues
