The 'Domain Names' Session was held on 20 October under the auspices of the Russian Internet Week (RIW-2011). The moderator of the session was Andrey Kolesnikov, the CC’s CEO. The session participants focused on the implementation of the New gTLDs program and exchanged views on prospects, the program implementation is offering for the global and domestic domain market.
Andrey Kolesnikov pointed to the attendees that the Coordination Center was going to submit an application for top-level domain .ДЕТИ. “Children safety online is, probably, the issue which gets everyone concerned of. However, the current approach implying search for and closure of websites containing information inappropriate for children is not the most efficient one. And we have decided to take a different approach- that is, to create an online space wherein children will be safe, feel like at home and amuse themselves. Domain zone .ДЕТИ is perfectly suitable for these purposes,” – said Andrey Kolesnikov. The CC’s CEO related about the way this project will be implemented. It will be part of the CC’s 2012 annual action plan and, correspondingly, will be funded from the CC’s budget. “The experience with domain .KIDS.US demonstrated that the sheer wish to implement this sort of project is not enough. There should be consolidation of the entire Internet community and willingness not to make money on the launch of a new domain zone, but rather invest a lot of money in it. For us, domain .ДЕТИ is investment in future,” – stressed he.
Project .ДЕТИ is implemented under the auspices of the Agency of Strategic Initiatives and the Civil Chamber of the Russian Federation. Dmitry Peskov, CEO of the Agency of Strategic Initiatives, got the session attendees amazed with his statement, that, “Tomorrow the Agency’ Advisory Board will convene. At our meeting, we are going to submit to the leaders of our state a whole string of innovative projects, including the initiative to register top-level domain .ДЕТИ. I hope that.ДЕТИ will be supported by the nation's leadership,” – asserted he. An outstanding social project aiming, inter alia, at development both of the country and its future, domain .ДЕТИ won support of the Agency's Board.
In her presentation at the workshop organized by the RF Ministry of Telecommunications and Mass Media, which was held on 19 October under the auspices of the RIW, Olga Kostina, member of the RF Civil Chamber’s Council (head of the inter-commission working group on children and youth), co-chair of the interregional human rights public organization “Soprotivlenie”, also supported the CC’s initiative. Irina Plesheva, a member of the RF Civil Chamber, spoke at the session “Domain names”. She related about a great interest, domain .ДЕТИ stirred not only within the Internet community but among ordinary Russian parents who are aware of the fact that their children will definitely go online.
Maxim Shevchenko, a member of the RF Public Chamber and anchor of TV-1 Channel, stressed that children should be treated the same way as adults are. “The only difference is that children are less aware of dangers that may await them, particularly online. Children require our protection and assistance. And creation of new specialized domain zones is the right step in this direction. The meaning of domain zone . ДЕТИ does not lie in banning any resources but in creating another world, which will be more entertaining for children than a negative content,” – noted Maxim Shevchenko.
Eva Khirstenko, Vice-president of NGO “Soyuz sotsialnoi zaschity detey”, in her presentation underlined importance of the CC’s initiative to create domain . ДЕТИ and called on all attendees to pay attention not only to such large projects, but to tine actions thousands of socially disadvantaged are in need for. “No doubt, a special domain zone for children is a good thing. However, these children should, first of all, learn how to go online. They need teachers or simply volunteers to help them get started in the cyberspace,” – said she.
Alexander Panov, managing partner, the Hosting Community, reminded attendees that when the program New gTLDs was still at the prenatal stage nobody could imagine that along with domain names for cities and regions, business or communities there might appear social domains. “Domain .ДЕТИ is a unique project and we will participate in it,” – said he.
Galina Soldatova, CEO of the Foundation for Internet Development and professor and head of the personality chair of the psychology department of the Moscow State University, also expressed her readiness to participate in developing domain .ДЕТИ. “I wholeheartedly welcome the Coordination Center's initiative. It is not for the first time that our Foundation and the Coordination Center pool forces in initiatives on ensuring children's safety online: we cooperated on hot lines and the “Positive content” contest among others”, - related Galina Soldatova.
In the second half of the session, Marina Nikerova, the CC’s Council chairperson, elaborated on what organizations, which have decided to submit applications for their own top-level domains, would have to do. “We are witnessing a unique experiment on a multiple increase of the number of domain zones worldwide. Today, there are only 24 domains in the gTLD segment, however, according to preliminary estimatesbetween 12 January and 12 April 2012, some 500 to 1,000 applications will be submitted. That is why ICANN puts forward stringent requirements for prospective applicants. Only an application's description will take about 400 pages. So if you plan to apply for a top-level domain get down to work now,” – said Marina Nikerova.
Alexander Panov related about two more prospective Russian applications for top-level domains. These applications are for domains .МОСКВА and .MOSCOW, which have long been discussed by the Internet community. Moscow is in the list of major global metropolitan areas and the city badly needs its own domain.
The session “Domain names” was followed by a roundtable, which focused on the adoption of the new Terms and Conditions of domain names registration in domains .RU and .РФ. Over recent weeks, this issue has attracted experts' 'great attention d stirred a heated debate. A lively discussion took place at the workshop, too. Andrey Kolesnikov, the CC’s CEO, once again expressed his confidence aboutt the new Terms and Conditions having taken into account opinions by different parties. Registrars’ representatives, lawyers, independent experts participated in their development of the Terms and Conditions, and the Internet community had their say, too. The work on the new Terms and Condition has been underway for nearly a year, which does not allow to conceiving of them as a fruit of a hectic exercise. “While crafting the Terms and Conditions, the working group tried to absorb all comments and suggestions received both by the group and the CC. And I think we managed to do that. However, the Terms and Conditions will be modified further on, and we all will work on them,” – said Andrey Kolesnikov.
