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Africa presented 17 applications and dotafrica was among them.
Africa presented 17 applications and dotafrica was among them.
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== Application to ICANN ==
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The DotAfrica [[.africa]] gTLD application was submitted by DCA Trust during the application window that opened on 12 January 2012 and closed on 22 May 2012. DCA hopes to win the mandate from ICANN for the management of the [[.africa]] gTLD to enable it administer this resource on behalf of its Pan-African constituency and other stakeholders around the globe.
[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043 ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]
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# "..the understanding as presently clarified by this communication is that DCA Trust has applied for the same 'Africa' geographical name string as UniForum and this will be confirmed by the outcome of the Independent String Similarity Panel who will review "applied-for gTLD strings against other applied-for gTLD strings. It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest that DCA Trust has applied for .dotAfrica as a geographic name without seeing the exact details of the underlying application which is yet to be evaluated by ICANN or considering the stipulations of the Guidebook regarding String Similarity Reviews and how String Contention Sets are arrived at'''''".|source=--DotConnectAfrica, Press Commentary on 17 June 2012",
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043 Press Commentary: DCA Trust & UniForum SA have both applied for the same 'Africa' Geographic NameString]
[http://www.prlog.org/11899992-dca-trust-and-uniforum-sa-have-both-applied-for-the-same-africa-geographic-name.html Press Commentary: DCA Trust & UniForum SA have both applied for the same 'Africa' Geographic NameString]
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[http://www.circleid.com/posts/20120725_dotconnectafrica_clarifies_its_africa_bid_at_eaigfl DotConnectAfrica Clarifies its .africa bid at EAIGF]
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DCA Trust has made explicit commitment in its [[.africa]] application to ICANN that the Trust will establish a full-service Internet registry which will be operated by DCA Registry Services Ltd. in accordance with the technical and operational criteria and other specifications stipulated by ICANN in the new gTLD Applicants' Guidebook.
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''''Note:''' Application to ICANN for DCA "AFRICA" geo-string is indicated as ".dotafrica" during the ICANN reveal date, on the ICANN website, dated 15 June 2012.
[http://gtldresult.icann.org/applicationstatus/applicationdetails/1276;jsessionid=2500230032894FB8CB3F16550E33DF0Farchive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1110237447043 ICANN New gTLDs - Application Details]
To minimize public confusion the company has issued immediate press release to clarify its position on the matter stating:
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'''Benefits to Africa'''
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The DotAfrica ([[.africa]]) names are meant to benefit everybody - individuals, companies, large multinationals, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, etc. It is suited to the needs and requirements of every type of organization. Anyone with an association with Africa can use it. For example, the United Nations can register un.africa to show its projects and activities in Africa, and an organization such as Safaricom, can register safaricom.africa to show its operational presence in different African countries. Similarly, Barclays Bank can register barclays.africa, so we expect creativity in the introduction, adoption and use of such .africa names for branding and market/territorial association with Africa in rather unique ways. DotAfrica ([[.africa]]) domain names will be useful for branding of products and services for the enormous benefit of organizations and individuals that have an enduring stake in Africa thereby providing a very unique African on-line identity.
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According to DCA, the establishment of a world-class registry services in an African country has many benefits for direct foreign investment, technology transfer, technical capacity building, employment generation, domestic income generation, lowering of service/usage costs for domain name registrants, and conservation of foreign exchange. To ensure the satisfaction of a corporate social responsibility component, surpluses shall be ploughed into projects that would benefit local communities including development of local ICT skills and Internet-related projects. DCA’s Presentations, speeches and publications to educated and create awareness of the benefit of the .africa gTLD is chronicled on their website at,
[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-presentations DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches]
[http://www.prlog.org/11852618-dca-announces-the-establishment-of-world-class-registry-system-infrastructure-in-nairobi.html DCA Announces Establishment of world clas registry]
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==Global Campaign and Promotional Work ==
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DCA’s early global campaign and promotional work for DotAfrica has put the .africa TLD on the global TLD map.
[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]
In readiness for the important task of applying for a geographic TLD with the hope of operating the resulting gTLD registry (if the application to ICANN is successful), DCA has taken an avid interest in the Internet Domain Name Industry and has been an active participant at ICANN for several years - not only following developments within the industry, but also attending international ICANN meetings on a regular basis.
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DCA is fully supportive of ICANN, and its new gTLD programme objectives. DCA has also sponsored several ICANN meetings, notably in Brussels in 2008
[http://www.prlog.org/10803421-progress-towards-africa-at-icann-38-in-brussels-the-capital-of-europe.htmls Progress towards a ".africa" at ICANN 38, in Brussels the Capital of Europe]
and in Dakar, Senegal in 2011.
[http://www.prlog.org/11673176-dotconnectafrica-icann-42-dakar-meet-the-yes2dotafrica-campaign-in-senegal.html ICANN 42 Dakar: Meet the Yes2dotAfrica Campaign in Senegal]
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Its spearhead, Ms. Sophia Bekele has undertaken important policy-level work at [[ICANN]] as a gNSO Council member from 2005 to 2007 and participated in the new gTLD policy development process (PDP). She led the global promotional campaign for DotAfrica visiting various countries within the continent to sensitive various publics to help build consensus on the need and overall desirability of DotAfrica. She also provided a written letter of support of the ICANN new gTLD programme to the U.S. National Technology & Information Administration (NTIA) of the United States Department of Commerce to ensure official top-level U.S. governmental support for the ICANN new gTLD programme initiative in Washington D.C. which is required for its global and unconditional success.
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]
In 2012, she also wrote an. Open Letter to US Congress to Express Support in Defense of the Status Quo on Global Internet Governance Model and Reaffirmation of the Multistakeholder Process
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1104224678384.html Open Letter to US Department of Commerce National Telecommunication Information Administration (NTIA) in support of teh ICANN New gTLD Programme and making a preliminary case for the .africa gTLD]
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Concurrently, DCA launched a global promotional campaign establishing itself as lead and spearheading the [[.africa]] project under a '''''"Yes2dotAfrica Campaign"'''.'
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107084740992.html Be part of our Yes2dotAfrica Campaign,2009-12-09]
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The Organization was also credited for its pioneer-ship in the use of a Pan-African Social Media sites including '''.africa, .afrique''' and' '''.afriqya,''' as an effective campaign tool to make its voice heard in the (3) major official languages spoken of Africa.'
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1107084740992.html Join our Pan-African Social Media Site, 2009-12-09]
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DCA’s Presentations, speeches and publications used for this global campaign and promotional work to create awareness of the .africa TLD are chronicled on their website at .'
[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/yes-campaign/dca-presentations DCA Campaign Presentations and Speeches]
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Since the launch of the global campaign and promotional work, over 60 press releases and over 85 email campaigns covering key communications, messages and other news items relevant to [[.africa]] have been published at DotConnectAfrfica News Archives Homepage
[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs053/1102516344150/archive/1103885604203.html DotConnectAfrica News Archive Homepage]
and PRLog Press Room
[http://pressroom.prlog.org/dotconnectafrica PRLog Press Room- DotConnectAfrica]
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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