Re: "I know that our constituency has favored auctions for commercial TLDs, and that registrars have, so why has this idea disappeared?" here's the short answer... The idea has disappeared because ICANN Staffer Liz Williams has stated that her focus is on "incorporating those [ideas] where there is majority agreement". See her note: http://forum.icann.org/lists/gtld-council/msg00215.html The concept of auctions received from her the status "Recommendation supported by some participants" in her letter to the Council -- see http://forum.icann.org/lists/gtld-council/msg00189.html As she does not view auctions as having majority support, it has not been included in her Draft Recommendations Summary. By the way, I regard only citing purported majority views as a lousy way forward for the GNSO as it totally marginalizes minority views that may in fact be held in high regard by members of the ICANN Board. I think the NCUC should demand a formal GNSO debate on auctions. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com