According to a statement released by the .za Domain Name Authority (DNA) Thursday, the .za DNA is in the process of applying to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for the redelegation of responsibility for the South Africa (SA) Internet domain (.za) to the Authority. This application is made with the support of both the SA Government and the current .za administrator, Mike Lawrie.
“The issue of re-delegation received much media attention at the time of the passing of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act in 2002, in terms of which the .za Domain Name Authority (a non-profit corporation) was designated to accept the re-delegation of .za,” the authority notes.
“Lawrie served on the selection panel, which recommended the board of directors of the .za Domain Name Authority, and currently serves on the authority’s technical committee. He remains a vital and important ‘voice of reason’ and contributor to the authority on technical and policy matters,” the statement continues.
“The Electronic Communications and Transactions Act was passed after a lengthy public consultation process, and the .za Domain Name Authority is of the view that its re-delegation application enjoys the support of the local community,” the authority says.
“Nevertheless, in the interests of openness and transparency, the .za Domain Name Authority has requested further public comment on the impending re-delegation,” which can be made via delegation@zadna.org.za, http://zadna.org.za/delegation, fax # 086 671 1584 or Suite 175, Postnet x15, Menlopark, 0102, according to the statement.
“The .za Domain Name Authority has accepted the responsibility of becoming the trustee of the .za ccTLD, and it is committed to open and transparent processes, with appropriate opportunity for participation by the local Internet community,” the statement says.
The next meeting of ICANN will take place in Cape Town in December, and it is hoped that the re-delegation request will be finalized before this meeting, the authority concludes.
The Cape Town ICANN meeting is being hosted by Uniforum SA, the .co.za domain registry, in conjunction with the Department of Communications and the .za Domain Name Authority.