Verisign to ICANN: not ready for fresh TLDs

Verisign claims insufficient preparation (mostly technical) for fresh top level domains.

Verisign has sent a note to ICANN (and filed it with the Securities and Exchange Commission) that basically states that the internet isn’t prepared fresh top level domains yet.

The note outlines multiple issues, ranging from automated TLD additions to the root (of which Verisign plays a role), lack of emergency backend providers, and lack of final plans for zone file and escrow.

From our perspective as a sizable-scale registry operator, it is apparent that the fresh gTLD timelines provide little accommodation for the operator aspects of the process. That is, given the information to date, it seems as though ICANN has taken a very ICANN-centric role in establishing these timeliness, and gave little consideration to the fact that registry operators would need to ingest requirements, implement, specifications, pilot internally, prepare to accommodate test cases, consider the security implications and change management functions required, etc. It actually appears as though there is little to no time allotted for operators to adequately prepare, and the lack of stable fundamental specifications and test plans within days of publicly stated testing times illustrates a clear disconnect between aspirational timelines with the Fresh gTLD program and operational realities with which various stakeholders are constrained.

The note concludes with a warning:

Any party concerned with consumer and operator privacy, trust, confidence, and overall security of fresh gTLDs and the broader Internet would be well served by the ICANN Board addressing these issues as appropriate ahead of delegating any fresh gTLDs, as the risk of a misstep in this direction could have far-reaching and long-lasting residual implications.

Earlier this evening Jeff Neuman, Vice President, Business Affairs at Neustar, Inc., tweeted:

Paul Stahura, co-founder of the largest TLD applicant Donuts, responded:

Verisign is also an applicant for fresh TLDs. It has applied for 14 fresh TLDs and is the backend provider on over 200 applications.

Regardless of the firm’s motives, Verisign’s role managing the root zone and the .com registry means the note will carry credence in the internet community as a whole.