This is a first Draft of the Initial Report of the IDNC Working Group (IDNC WG). The report is going to be published for comment and input from members of the ICANN community. The document has not been signed-off by the IDNC Working Group whose members will continue to provide there own comments and input during this consultation period.

The IDNC WG was asked by ICANN's Board to develop and then report back on feasible methods, that would enable the introduction, in a timely manner and in a manner that ensures the continued security and stability of the Internet, of a limited number of non-contentious IDN ccTLDs, associated with the ISO 3166-1 two-letter codes (both the official code list of ISO 3166-1 and the list of reserved ISO 3166-1 code elements), while the overall IDN ccTLD policy is being developed.

The scope of the IDNC WG is limited to developing feasible methods. The Report is currently being prepared. In preparing the ccPDP Issue Report, the Issue Manager will identify policies, procedures, and/or by-laws that need to be reviewed and, if necessary revised, in connection with the development and implementation of any IDN ccTLD policy. The Issue Manager will also take into account the joint ccNSO GAC Issues Paper, input from other ICANN Supporting Organisations and Advisory Committees, public comments, technical limitations and requirements including the IDNA Guidelines, and any other matters that the Issue Manager considers to be of relevance.

In considering fast track methods, the IDNC WG must take into account and be guided by:

• The overarching requirement to preserve the security and stability of the DNS;

• Compliance with the IDNA protocols;

• Input and advice from the technical community in respect to the implementation of IDNs;

• Current practices for the delegation of ccTLDs.

The fast track approach requires two specific mechanisms which are addressed in this report:

1. A mechanism for the selection of the IDN ccTLD string (See Section 3 of the report); and 2. A mechanism to designate an IDN ccTLD manager (See Section 4 of the report).

The main purpose of this report is to inform and report to the community on the issues that have been identified by the IDNC WG that need to be considered in developing both of the two mechanisms, and to seek input and comments on them.

This report, and all of the comments received, will be used to structure and propose potential mechanisms in the next phase of the fast track ss stated above, the outcome of the fast track cannot pre-empt the outcome of the ccPDP. All of the issues/topics raised regarding the fast track mechanisms also are being raised under the ccPDP.