LISBON, Portugal - The international meeting for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers opened today, preceding a Friday, March 30, board decision regarding the proposed dot-xxx domain registry. Concerned about the possible passage, the Free Speech Coalition sent its Executive Director Diana Duke to Lisbon last week, because the organization is worried about the "ghetto-izing of speech to the dot-xxx domain," Duke told AVNOnline.com.
During the week of ICANN meetings, the organization also will be discussing and overseeing the developments in the organization's mission of global coordination of the Internet's system of unique identifiers. The attendees and online participants will take part in more than 30 sessions and workshops.
"This is a particularly busy meeting for ICANN and the Internet community," said Paul Twomey, president and chief executive officer of ICANN. The board is very interested in the outcome of Friday's vote, he added.
"I just think we are well overdue and we look forward to ratification of the contract," said Stuart Lawley, ICM Registry chairman and president. "As long as ICANN sticks to its bylaws and processes, we expect ratification."
Some other issues and events for the meeting include an appearance by Hamadoun Touré, the new secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union; an update on IPv6, aimed at opening up the number of IP addresses available globally; and a major review of ICANN's Registrar Accreditation Agreements and the accreditation process, arising out of the RegisterFly.com situation.
