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Fast Track Receives Over 50 Responses

1 November 2008

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Following the recommendation from the IDNC WG Final report, ICANN sent letters to all countries and territories requesting information about their interest in participating in the Fast Track process. A sample letter is available at http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-02oct08-en.htm

The request for information included a brief questionnaire intended to ascertain interest in the Fast Track Process.

While ICANN is still receiving responses, the following data is being made available to help the continued discussions in the community, and to inform the draft Implementation Plan for IDN ccTLDs, and make it available for use for the countries and territories.

Total number of letters to national governments: 252

Total number of letters to ccTLD operators: 252

Total number of received responses: 58

Number of received responses stating an interested in obtaining an IDN ccTLD during the fast-track process: 32

A total of 30 respondents specified one or more IDN ccTLD labels and 10 respondents at this stage did not yet specify the IDN ccTLD label(s). Some of the respondents that specified the IDN ccTLD label(s) also specified that they had no interest in participating in the Fast Track process. A reason for not participating may be that these respondents are not eligible to participate in the fast track process because the IDN ccTLD they are interested in is based on characters from the Latin script.

A total of 14 languages are anticipated to be represented initially through the IDN ccTLD fast Track process.

The responses estimate the earliest availability for launching an IDN ccTLD within 3 months and the latest being available per the end of 2010.

ICANN will provide updates to the statistics listed above as additional responses are being received. The data above is based on responses received per 1 November 2008.

For more details about the IDN ccTLD fast Track Process, please see: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/idn/fast-track/