ICANN CEO Being A Bit Too Quiet About New TLD Application System Downtime?

ICANN took the online application system for new TLDs applicants offline 10 days ago. 10 days. I have to repeat that, because it’s not something I or  anyone else expected.

It’s been quite interesting to watch how people have been reacting to the issue. Some people have been highly critical of the organisation (Yes – I wasn’t exactly forgiving either), while others have been trying to find the silver lining.

ICANN’s senior staff, but not its CEO, have been trying their best to communicate as clearly as possible and let potential new TLD applicants know what is going on. Oddly enough, however, the organisation’s CEO has been silent. His Twitter stream barely shows any mention of the issue, except in passing, and he hasn’t been the voice or face of ICANN over the last 10 days. Odd.

So can ICANN keep the new TLD application system offline?

They seem to feel that they have to while they conduct more investigations into the problems, though doing so is also going to be criticised.

So what can they do?

Maybe I’m mad, but couldn’t ICANN simply accept the applications using snail mail? ie. let applicants submit the data on a CD or similar and courier it to the ICANN offices.

If the applicant guidebook doesn’t allow for that then surely the board can amend it?

It just seems that if ICANN intends to respect its own deadlines, even allowing for the current 10 days and counting delay, that some form of decisive action needs to be taken. Maybe resorting to “old fashioned” methods would work.

Or maybe I am, in fact, mad.