ICANN Seeks Expressions of Interest from Auction Design Experts

ICANN is seeking expressions of interest from entities experienced in developingand managing auction processes. ICANN has identified several areas where auctionsmight be an appropriate tool, such as the efficient disposition of data fromterminated registrars and registries, the allocation of single-character second-leveldomain names, and perhaps, resolution of contention between competing commercialapplicants for identical strings in the application process for new genericTop Level Domains.

A number of commenters and academics have recommended auctionsas the preferred method of objectively allocating scarce resources such aspopular second-level domain names or gTLD strings. Also, ICANN received substantialpublic comment in the discussion on allocation of single-character second-levelnames that the names should be allocated through an auction model.

ICANN isan internationally organized non-profit public benefit organization that administerscertain features of the Internet's unique identifiers. As a private-publicpartnership, ICANN is dedicated to preserving the operational stability ofthe Internet; to promoting competition; to achieving broad representation ofglobal Internet communities; and to developing policy appropriate to its missionthrough bottom-up, consensus-based processes. A general description of ICANNis available at http://icann.org/tr/english.html.

Background

As recommended by the GNSO Council, ICANN commenced a Forum on AllocationMethods for Single-Letter and Single-Digit Domain Names in gTLD registries.ICANN conducted the public forum from 16 October to 15 December 2007.

The Forum on Allocation Methods identified support from members of the ICANNcommunity and described several auction models of single-letter and single-digitdomain names at the second-level (see 16 October 2007 announcement at https://www.icann.org/announcements/announcement-16oct07.htm,and Summary of Comments located at https://www.icann.org/public_comment/single-letter-summary-comments-23dec07.pdf [PDF,61K]. If these models are pursued, ICANN staff has determined that the additionalknowledge and expertise on auctions is necessary to further work in this area.

Although implementation plans are still in development, ICANN staff has alsoidentified auctions as a possibility of final resort for addressing stringcontention among multiple applicants for popular new generic TLDs. Additionalguidance on auctions will be beneficial as staff moves toward the introductionof new gTLDs in the near future.

In furtherance of the protection of registrants, auctions also provide a mechanismfor addressing the termination or failure of accredited registrars and gTLDregistries and the efficient transfer of names to a competent, on-going registraror registry.

Qualifications

Entities interested in submitting Expressions of Interest should be experiencedin areas of auction design, management and implementation. Prior experiencewith telecommunications, Internet or domain name, energy/utility or other assetauctions would be particularly relevant.

Expressions of Interest

Expressions of interest should be sent to Patrick Jones, at patrick.jones@icann.org by 23:59 UTC on 18 February 2008. ICANN is hoping to select a qualified entityor entities to assist with auctions in 2008.

Accordingly, ICANN is eager to commence a dialogue to determine whether yourservice is interested and would be capable of assisting ICANN with the developmentand management of auction processes. ICANN requests Expressions of Interestfrom potential entities that include information showing that your organizationcan fulfill the requirements set forth above, as well as background informationabout your organization, appropriate experience and additional qualificationsyou believe would be relevant, but that are not addressed above.