MODEL ICANNCONFERENCE
Part 1BRIEFING ON ROLEPLAY FORMATAPIGA INFOKIT 2024
This infokit is designed to assist you in preparing
for the Model ICANN Conference. This document
contains comprehensive information regarding thetopic, including details about preparation sessions
and roleplay discussions. Additionally, it offers
guidance on how to effectively prepare for themock conference.

TABLE OF CONTENT
01

Model ICANN
Conference04

Stakeholders Group
Responsibilities

02

Background of Topic

05

Meet your Team

03

Guide to PrepSession

06

Problem Statements

MODEL ICANN CONFERENCE• ICANN’s Mission is to coordinate policy development related to the Internet’s unique
identifier systems.
• DNS policies are developed through formal policy development processes (PDPs), as
set forth by the ICANN Bylaws.
• Policy recommendations are developed by the ICANN community through the Supporting
Organizations (SOs), with input and advice from the Advisory Committees (ACs).
• The ICANN community consists of global volunteers from different stakeholder groups.
Adopting the multistakeholder model, policies are developed through a “bottom-up”,
consensus-driven approach.
• The "Model ICANN Conference" is a role-play exercise. Based on assigned roles,participants will portray different positions across different stakeholder groups such as
GAC, ALAC, and GNSO. From this exercise, participants will experience the dynamics
from policy development discussions within the ICANN community.

TopicAlternative Naming Systems
Challenges and Opportunities

Background of the topic
Each device or website on the Internet has aunique address – like a telephone number.

192.0.2.255

The Domain Name System (DNS) makes
navigating the Internet easier by allowingusers
to type in familiar letters – the domain name–instead of the IP address.

2001:db8::53

192.190.220.247

Phonebook
192.0.10.12

192.0.48.13

This address is a series of numbers
and letters, called an IP address.
IP stands for Internet Protocol.

For example, you only need to type in
https://nma.asia to reach NetMission’s website,
instead of its IP address - 192.190.220.247

Understanding the Internet’s Root Server System
What happens when you browse a website?
Hey Bro! Where iswww.nma.asia

Your laptop asks the DNS resolver.

DNSResolver

DNS resolver is a server on the Internet that converts domain names into IP addresses.

Understanding the Internet’s Root Server System
Detail into the process
Big Bro! Where iswww.nma.asia

The DNS resolver asks a root DNS server
Go to.asia server!

DNSResolver

RootDNSServer

Root DNS servers only know information about top-leveldomain (TLD)* names, so it tells the DNS resolver to“try.asia” and gives the DNS resolver referral
information to a .asia server.

Understanding the Internet’s Root Server System
Detail into the process
Hey! Where iswww.nma.asia?

The DNS resolver asks the .org DNS server

DNSResolver

Go toNMA DNSserver!

.asia
DNSServer

The .org server only knows about .org domains, so it tells
the DNS resolver to “try www.nma.asia” and gives
the DNS resolver referral information to awww.nma.asia DNS server

Understanding the Internet’s Root Server System
Detail into the process
Where iswww.nma.asia?

The DNS resolver asks the www.nma.asia
DNS server

DNSResolver

Go to this IP
192.190.220.247

NMADNS
ServerSince the www.nma.asia DNS server knows about the entire
website address, not just the TLD, it tells the DNS resolverthat “www.nma.asia is at IP address 192.190.220.247”

Understanding the Internet’s Root Server System
Detail into the processIt is at
192.190.220.247

The DNS resolver tells your laptop
whoa!

DNSResolver

Success!

The root servers are critical to the operation of the Internet with theability to obtain the initial referral provided by the root servers tolook up any domain names on the Internet.

A Unique, Authoritative Root for the DNS
There are 12 independent root server operators that manage 13 root identities across the globe.
The ICANN organization runs one of these root identities – the ICANN Managed Root Server(IMRS). These identities represent over 1,000 individual servers, each providing identicalinformation from the root zone to resolvers all over the world.

The root zone holds referral information for the TLDs, which points
to their DNS servers to help resolve your device's request.

Back to 2001 and ICP-3
The early form of experimentation with Alternative Name Systems
was to make changes to the core DNS technology, “The Root”.
The use of active domain names in these alternate roots could in fact
impair the uniqueness of the authoritative name-resolution mechanismand hence the stability of the DNS.
Alternate roots led to the publication of ICP-3 in 2001
ICP-3 reaffirms ICANN's commitment to a single, authoritative
public root for the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) and to themanagement of that unique root in the public interest according topolicies developed through community processes.

The Internet Coordination Policy 3 (ICP-3: A Unique, Authoritative Root for the DNS)

Global Internet need Single name space
There is strong peer pressure to use a single naming system on
the Internet for consistency and coherence. This ensures that
resource names refer to the same things across contexts,benefiting everyone. The Domain Name System (DNS) serves as
this unified name space.
Without the DNS, we wouldn’t have a global, interoperable
Internet.

However, the evolution and innovation of Alternative Naming
Systems…

Alternative Naming Systems
Presents a risk of Internet fragmentation with thecreation of separate ecosystems, one for eachnaming system.
There is no community-driven coordination, neither
between alternative naming systems, nor between thosenaming systems and the DNS:Name collisions are unavoidable!

Goal
The goal for this Model ICANN Conference isfor stakeholder groups to collaborate anddiscuss the challenges and opportunities from
Alternative Naming Systems, as well as
reach consensus on whether and how thesenaming systems can be managed and/orcoordinated effectively.

CONFERENCE RUNDOWN
Cross-community
Plenary

5 MINS

Introduction

35 MINS

In-group

breakout discussion
20 MINS

25 MINS

discussion
15 MINS

25 MINS

40 MINS

In-group

Working coffee

discussion

Plenary &break

Wrap-upGuide to Prep Session
Know Your Group Members, Mentors, and Group Leaders
1. Partnering Up or work Individually:○ Participants who wish to partner up must inform their groupleaders by 6 PM.
○ Only 4 pairs are allowed in each group, and it will be on afirst-come, first-serve basis. Otherwise, Individuals.
2. Role Assignment:○ Mentors will assign the roles of stakeholders within yourgroup.
○ The team must vote on or divide the roles of Chair,Vice-Chair, and 2x Notetakers among your group members.

STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

GAC

ALAC

GNSO

Governmental Advisory
Committee

At-Large Advisory
Committee

Generic Names
Supporting Organization

Group Responsibilities
Vice ChairChair●The Chair’s key role will be to formulate (and decide) GAC’s positions●on the problem statements.
●The Chair will facilitate discussions within the group, and ensure allwithin the group, deciding on final positions etc.).
●views are heard.
●

The Vice Chair’s role is to assist the Chair (e.g. facilitating discussion
The Vice-Chair will also represent the group in cross-community“breakout” conversations.

The Chair will also represent the group in cross-community “breakout”
conversations.

●

The Chair has the right to nominate spokespersons to speak on behalfof the group during the plenary.

2 x Notetakers

Spokespersons (Group/Chair to decide how many)●Notetakers have the important task of noting discussion points.

●

It is crucial to note statements and positions of other groups toThey will deliver the group’s agreed upon views and positions on thedetermine whether you share the same positions, and to facilitate yourproblem statements.

Chair/Vice-Chair’s discussion when working on a consensus with other●●groups.
●

Notetakers will prepare a Google document, and share their screen
during the in-group discussions.

Spokespersons will speak on behalf of the group during the plenary.

Spokespersons can also speak in their own capacity based on theirassigned roles.

●The Chair has the right to nominate spokespersons if no one
volunteers.

Introduce Roaming Mentors

MentorMentor

Edmon Chung

Alban Kwan

GACMentors● Ian Sheldon● Boyoung Kim

Group Members

Group Leaders

Ahmad Umair Suhaidi

Yejin Lee

1

Tess Patridge

2

Te-Jung Tang

3

Ankita Rathi

4

Maya Yoshikawa

5Bongraoi Arebaio

6

Doyeon Kim

7

HyeIn Kim

8

Minjoon Jo

9Seoyeon Lee

10

Lim Jia Chyin

11

Nawal Munir

12

Au Yi Teng

13

Tenil Prabath Premathilaka Vimal Premathilakage

14Yujin Cha

ALACMentors● Amrita Choudhury● Justine Chew

Group Members

Group Leaders

Nattaya Jaratruangsaeng

Mabda Haerunnisa
Fajrilla Sidiq

1

Ngawang Cheki Yangzom

2

Wen-Yen Tien

3

Rhydhi Gupta

4

Zahra Nur Aliya

5

Eunah Park

6

Hyunjung Cho

7

Minseo Park

8

Sodam Kum

9Sooyoung Lee

10

Hsu Htoo Nandar Aung

11

Aishwarya KC

12Songo Nore

13

Quang Nghia To

GNSO

Mentors● Manju Chen
● Jennifer ChungGroup Members

Group Leaders

Socheata Sokhachan

Jaeyoung Lee

1

Mawloda Hassas

2

Chanvoleak Ros

3

Jo-Wei Chang

4

Sameer Gahlot

5

Arvianti Yulia Ma'ulfa

6

Hayeon Nam7Jieun Lee

8Minkyung Park

9Seogyeong Cho

10

Chilanhouth Nitvongkhay

11

Khongorzul Purev

12

Neil Leander Almazan De Dios

13

Filimoni Pelenato

PROBLEM
STATEMENTS

ICP-3

1

What is your stakeholder group's position
on Alternative Naming Systems?
Supportive, Oppose, or Neutral?

2

Can Alternative Naming Systems be
included into the scope and governancestructure of ICANN? If so, how? If not,should it be prohibited, and how?

GAC’S VIEWS
The GAC, representing governments and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
The GAC is concerned about security risks but recognizes the potential for business
opportunities in ANS. Some countries might advocate for ANS to be managed by a UN
entity to ensure international oversight.

ALAC’S VIEWS
The ALAC represents the interests of individual Internet users and non-commercialorganizations.
The ALAC is also divided. There is a fear that ANS could cause confusion amongusers and lead to Internet fragmentation if not overseen by ICANN. However, there isalso an acknowledgment on the need to make these systems accessible and beneficial
to end-users.

GNSO’S VIEWS
The GNSO is responsible for developing policies and making recommendations ongeneric top-level domains (gTLDs).
The GNSO has mixed views. While some see the business potential in ANS, others
are worried about the technical risks and operational impacts, such as name collisions,that could undermine the stability and reliability of the DNS.

THANK YOU!

Q&A?

Appendix

Name collision occurs when a private domainname clashes with a public domain name. This
mix-up can lead to confusion, security risks, orunintended results.

(2022,April27).
ChallengeswithAlternativeNameSystems.
ICANN.
Retrievedhttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1D1_ri4NLM5gvBEQ-CuizopyMSgooqXq3/edit#slide=id.p1

from| 31

John

I want a new domain name.
Let’s use a blockchain name!
Market, can you sell me something cool?
MarketJohn, I can sell you john.cryptonite.

John

Sally, connect with me,
here: john.cryptonite
Sally

John…
I’m trying but it does
not work…

John

I forgot to tell you, you need toinstall this cool web browser first…
Sally

Never heard of it…
Is it safe?

John

I’ve found this other blockchain… lot’s ofcool stuff there. I’ll ask Market if I can get anew domain name there.
MarketI can sell you john.superblockchain.

John

Hi Sally, I have some new stuff for
you to try: john.superblockchain.
SallyJohn, I did install your special browser
as you told me last time…
It does not work for your new domain???

John

Sally, I forgot again, this is a different blockchain,
you need to install this other browser and there
is a plug-in to download too…
Sally

Go away…
:(Sally

John, I eventually followed all the steps you gave me…
I can now see you at john.superblockchain.
But when I try john.cryptonite,
I see my ex-boyfriend’s profile???
JohnWhat? I have not done anything!!!
See, this is my profile!

John

Market, Sally is unhappy.
How come she and I see different things when
we type john.cryptonite?
MarketThis is called name collision.
Cryptonite is popular!
At least three different blockchains are using it!
Your computer and hers are not set-up the same way.
You look in one name space, she looks in another…
No wonder you see different things!

John

But how come john.cryptonite is not unique?

MarketYou see, nobody guaranties
those names are unique.
Btw, john.cryptonite is still available in the third blockchain
naming system. Do you want to buy it or should I offer it to
Sally’s ex-boyfriend?

John

This is stupid. I’m going back to my old john.icannTLD domain
name!
At least it was unique…
Market

Ha! You can’t escape name collision! Ha!
See: .icannTLD is now available in fivedifferent alternative naming systems!
Maybe you want to create your own naming system?
JohnMarket, you are a monster!
The Internet is now broken.