Internet Society Statement in Response To ICANN's Final Staff Evaluation Report on Proposals for Reassignment of the .ORG Registry

Business Wire, Sept 24, 2002

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 24, 2002

On June 19, 2002, the Internet Society along with 10 other organizations submitted proposals to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to be considered as the next registry operator for the .ORG domain.

Yesterday afternoon, ICANN's Final Staff Evaluation Report was posted recommending that the Internet Society (ISOC) be selected as the next .ORG registry operator. Lynn St. Amour, the President and CEO of ISOC released the following statement in response to the final staff report:

"We are very pleased with the recommendation of the final staff evaluation report. The ICANN staff and all of the evaluation teams have placed significant confidence in ISOC and in our chosen service provider, Afilias Limited, by ranking our bid highest overall. We are privileged to have been recommended from among so many other commendable bids.

We respect the fact that ICANN extended the evaluation process in order to thoroughly review comments and concerns not only from the other bidders but especially from the public, and we applaud their efforts to make this evaluation process as open, objective and fair as possible.

For over 10 years ISOC has played a vital role in helping to ensure the Internet remains open and accessible, while at the same time working to ensure its stability. We believe that this approach, coupled with Afilias' extensive experience in registry operations, will bring a higher level of service and value to .ORG registrants, should the ICANN Board approve the staff recommendation. We hope to have the opportunity to bring this level of stability, coupled with innovative services and technical superiority to the non-commercial community through the management of .ORG."