APTLD Bi-monthly e-Newsletter / Trial Edition – January 2003
Contents 1. From the APTLD Chairperson 2. What’s New 3. Members’ Corner 4. Future Meetings
===== 1. From the APTLD Chairperson Welcome to the inaugral edition of the APTLD Newsletter. The Asia Pacific Top Level Domain, or APTLD, was initially formed as a loose organisation of ccTLD managers in the Asia Pacific region with the objectives of sharing information and knowledge, fostering and promoting strong participation by AP ccTLDs in international fora and promoting stability and continuity in domain names. This loose orgainsation is now being formalised in order to better serve its members and enable stronger participation at global fora such as ICANN and others. More information on the formalisation will be forthcoming soon. The Asia Pacific is a unique region, comprising more languages, scripts and cultures than any other single region in the world. This diversity gives us the ability to understand differing points of views and come to unique solutions. You are invited to join us and both learn and contribute your ideas to these solutions. If you are already a member, I look forward to your active participation at APTLD meetings, both in the real as well as the virtual world. I am sure your knowledge and perspective will make APTLD a richer and more rewarding experience for all concerned. If  you are not yet a member,  its time for you to find out more about the APTLD and how we may jointly address the numerous issues facing ccTLDs and the Internet community worldwide. If you need more information or have feedback on the Newsletter or other APTLD activities, please do contact the APTLD Secretariat. Regards, Ramesh Kumar Nadarajah Chair, Asia Pacific Top Level Domain .MY
===== 2. What’s New (1/12/2002 – 31/01/2003)
APRICOT 2003 will be held in Taipei from Feb. 19 to 28 APRICOT 2003, the eighth APRICOT, will be held at Taipei International Convention Center (TICC) co-hosted by Directorate General of Telecommunications (DGT) and Taiwan Network Information Center (TWNIC) form February 24 to February 28, with 5 pre-conference workshops from February 19 to 23. Most information is at www.apricot2003.net/menu/press/e-press-1.htm
Next ICANN Meetings to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Hosted by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee (CGIBR), the next ICANN Meetings will be held in 23-27 March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. On-line pre-registration is available now. For more information about the ICANN Rio Rio de Janeiro Meetings, please refer to www.icann.org.br/rio.
APTLD Board NetMeeting held on 24th January 2003 For the upcoming APTLD Taipei AGM, a Board NetMeeting was called and held on 24th January. Several issues were brought into discussion, including Board election, AGM Agendas and ccTLD IDN and AdCom issues. It was decided that the Board election will be held before Taipei AGM. Some details related to Board issues will be discussed during the Taipei AGM. The NetMeeting was chaired by Peter Dengate Thrush. For more details, please refer to http://www.aptld.org/NEWS/288.doc.
ccTLD IDN Task Force NetMeeting held on 13th January For well preparation for the First ccTLD IDN Task Force Forum during APRICOT 2003 in Taipei, a NetMeeting was called. Some issues including IDN Task Force charter, chairperson’s criteria and Taipei meeting agenda were fully discussed. More details at www.wwtld.org/meetings/IDN/IDN_13jan2003.html.
Addition Member from each region to the existing AdCom suggested In order to dicsuss the future positions of ccTLD and AdCom, a teleconference was held on 8th January. Regional representatives got together to discuss the future positions of ccTLD and AdCom. Addition of one members from each region to the existing AdCom was suggested. The ccTLD Secretariat will inform Regional TLDs to elect additional members to AdCom and announce and call for suggestions for the review of functions of Adcom. The Teleconference was chaired by Peter Dengate Thrush. Elisabeth Porteneuve and Oscar Robles were invited to the discussion. For more details about the AdCom Teleconference and IDN Task Force NetMeeting, please refer to www.wwtld.org/meetings/adcom/adcom_8jan2003.html
ccNSO AG’s Preliminary Recommendations on ccNSO Membership and Council In December 2002, ccNSO Assistance Group has prepared two preliminary recommendations on the ccNSO Membership and Council. The recommendations on the Membership and Council and previous issues can be found at ERC’s web page at www.icann.org/committees/evol-reform/links.htm. The AG will consider feedback received on this preliminary recommendation and its effect on other recommendations. For more information about AG’s Preliminary Recommendations on ccNSO Membership and Council, please refer to www.icann.org/committees/evol-reform/ccnsoag-report-10dec02.htm and http://www.icann.org/committees/evol-reform/ccnsoag-report-24dec02.htm respectively.
===== 3. Members’ Corner (1/12/2002 – 31/01/2003)
from .au	20 January 2003 auDA terminates A1 Registrar's accreditation In December 2002, the directors of A1 Registrars placed the company in administration, as a result of an ongoing shareholders' dispute that could not be resolved. auDA is aware of this appointment, and has been working with A1 Registrar's administrator and shareholders to minimise any disruption to registrants. (more) 07 January 2003 Generic Domain Names - Final Update 07/01/03 The generic domain name auction process is now completed. Domain names that were not allocated as part of the auction process were released in October and December 2002. (more)
from .cn	16 January 2003 CNNIC has released the 11th Statistical Report on China Internet Development (Simplified Chinese Version) 12 December 2002 New .cn Domain Name System launched (Simplified Chinese Version)
from .hk	23 Jan 2003 HKIRC Membership Contributes to a Solid Foundation for E-Society in Hong Kong Inaugurated on 22 April 2002, Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited ("HKIRC"), HKIRC today issues an invitation to membership and announces its new product plan for 2003. These initiatives will support HKIRC as well as the Hong Kong SAR Government in driving Hong Kong's domain name development to be in line with global trend, and will strengthen the foundation for a better e-Society in Hong Kong. (more) 18 Dec 2002 HKIRC Invites Internet Domain Name Users to Become Members Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited ( "HKIRC" ) cordially invites you to enrol for its membership. (more)
from .jp	8 January 2003 Cumulative Total Number of JP Domain Name Registrations Tops 500,000 Japan Registry Service Co., Ltd. (JPRS; Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Koki Higashida), the company responsible for the management and administration of the .JP top-level domain and operation of the domain name system, announced today that the cumulative total number of JP domain names registered as of January 1, 2003 broke the 500,000 mark, reaching 502,906. Of the 243 ccTLDs in the world, JP ranks among the top 10 in terms of the number of registrations. (more).
from .kr	20 January 2003 Domain Dispute Committee announces its 2002 accomplishments - the legislation of dispute mediation system regarding domain names is urgent On Jan 9th, Domain Dispute Committee(chairman: Prof. Jang Moon-chul of Korea National Police University) announced its 2002 accomplishments. Total of 54 disputes were filed to the committee, 36 were mediated(22 mediated, 8 canceled, and 6 dismissed), and 8 were peacefully settled by mutual agreements. (more) 20 January 2003 KRNIC decided to change time for deleting domain name that did not pay maintenance fee KRNIC (President, Song Kwan-ho) plans to delete domain names that did not pay maintenance fee between 10am and 5pm everyday starting Jan 9th. (more) 26 December 2002 KRNIC and SBSi will co-host 2002 Netizen Best KRNIC would like to develop and spread sound Internet culture and also contribute to the growth of domestic Internet through <2002 Netizen Best> event. (more)
from .nz	23 December 2002 Pete Macaulay Appointed as Executive Director of InternetNZ InternetNZ is delighted to announce that it has appointed Pete Macaulay as its new Executive Director. (more) 06 December 2002 InternetNZ Consults on Final Second Level Domain, '.geek.nz' InternetNZ, through the Office of the Domain Name Commissioner, is calling for public discussion regarding the request for a new second level domain name of '.geek.nz'. Discussion is open for a period of 60-90 days from 5 December 2002. "This is the last proposal received before a moratorium on new proposals was imposed by the Society in August this year." said InternetNZ Executive Director, Sue Leader. (more)
from .tw	24 January 2003 Final extension of Early bird discount, registration and payment made before February 7 will receive 25% discount 31 December 2002 TWNIC Newsletter January 2003 (Traditional Chinese Version) 1 December 2002 Taiwan Internet Survey Released (Traditional Chinese Version)
===== 4. Future Meetings 20-21 February 2003 APNG & APNG Camp Taipei, Taiwan 22-23 February 2003 AP* Retreat Taipei, Taiwan 24-28 February 2003 APRICOT 2003 Taipei, Taiwan 24-28 February 2003 15th APNIC Open Policy Meeting Taipei, Taiwan 24 February 2003 APTLD 4th Annual General Meeting Taipei, Taiwan 24 February 2003 APIA Forum Taipei, Taiwan 24-25 February 2003 APSIRC 2003 Taipei, Taiwan 24-26 February 2003 IPv6 Summit Taipei, Taiwan 25 February 2003 ccTLD IDN Task Force Forum Taipei, Taiwan 27-28 February 2003 17th CENTR General Assembly Frankfurt, Germany 23-27 March 2003 ICANN Meetings, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
===== Contacts: APTLD Secretariat 4F-2, No 9, Sec. 2, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-2341-1313 ext.702/Fax: 886-2-23968832/ E-mail: sec@aptld.org