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18(b) How do you expect that your proposed gTLD will benefit registrants, Internet users, and others?

gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.网址Top Level Domain Holdings Limitedgmail.comView
The .网址 domain will offer an alternative domain which prospective registrants can use to advertise their products, information and services on the Internet, making them more accessible to their targeted audiences. Additionally, this will benefit the public at large as it will result in a wider range of options from which to choose.

PUBLIC BENEFIT
We believe that the Internet-using world will benefit from the existence of a .网址 gTLD by:

- making domain names ending in .网址 available to all those who may want to use such .网址 domain names for their own business, personal, political or other legal purposes in the United States and world-wide.

- the promotion of websites by having information of any and all types and for any and all legal purposes available and disseminated from websites and email addresses ending in .网址 for the registrants’ and users’ own purposes world-wide.

- the promotion of websites by allowing businesses, not-for-profits and individuals to associate their products, services, information and selves with websites for their own purposes.

- allowing people and organizations to promote their association with websites on the Internet.

- providing an identifiable means for people, organizations and businesses to communicate with those who associate with or provide websites.

EXPANDING THE TLD NAMESPACE
Over the past decade, the market for domain name registrations has grown at a tremendous pace. From 2000 to 2010 domain name registrations increased from 40 million to 200 million domain names registered globally. 2011 experienced a growth of approximately 9%, which was significantly higher than the previous year’s 6% growth, ending third quarter 2011 with approximately 220 million domain names registered globally. Approximately 60% of these are gTLDs, while the remaining 40% are comprised of ccTLDs. More specifically, gTLD growth was approximately 8% in 2011, while ccTLD growth exceeded 11%.

Existing TLDs, such as .COM and .NET, do not provide adequate solutions for many registrants. Domain names that relate to the registrants’ business, interests, or associations are often already registered, priced exorbitantly high, or available options are unsuitable. Additionally, other options, such as ccTLDs, do not provide adequate alternatives as a registrant may not have any geographic relation or meet the criteria associated with other gTLDs such as .MUSEUM or .AERO. Therefore, the only available opportunity to pursue a relevant and useful domain name registration may be through a brand new registration of a gTLD.

Taking into account the new opportunities available with new gTLDs, growth is expected to continue in all sections of the domain name industry. It will benefit registrants and users by allowing registrants to reach more targeted audiences and increase their web presence. Additionally, it will allow registrants to more closely identify with a particular market segment.

At present, there is no specific .网址 domain name, or useful top-level alternative domain name, that exists for the people, organizations or businesses that associate themselves with websites or people, organizations or businesses that want to communicate with them. Those desirous of a domain name that indicates some level of association with websites could seek a second level domain name such as “网址.COM,” “网址.CN” or “网址. 中国,” but such domains (or similar names) are not readily available under the limited number of existing gTLDs, and--more importantly--only provide a secondary (at best) or weak (at worst) relationship between the domain name and the topic “websites”, which we believe is the primary goal of the registrant of such names.

From a competitive perspective, registrants that want a domain name that effectively and efficiently shows an association with websites or registrants that want a domain name that allows them to identifiably communicate with people who associate or identify with it face a domain name marketplace that provides them with few, if any, options for their purposes. The .网址 top-level domain will resolve this problem by providing registrants with an efficient, effective, prominent, instantly understood way of showing their association with websites, and provide those registrants who desire it a domain that that can effectively communicate information to such Internet users in an identifiable way. At the same time, .网址 provides competition with the existing TLDs and new gTLDs that will be approved by ICANN, benefiting the Internet community at large by increasing consumer choice.

We believe that the .网址 top-level domain will add significantly to competition and differentiation in the top-level domain space, both for registrants and Internet consumers. With respect to competition, registrants are presently extremely limited in their choice of domain names that allow them to efficiently and effectively associate themselves with websites. The availability of useful, effective, straight-forward domain names on existing top-level domains, such as .COM, .NET and .ORG, are few and far between, or may be for sale at prices that are out of reach for most. .网址 will allow registrants to obtain useful, effective, straight-forward domain names rather than be forced to purchase, for example, their fifth, sixth or even later choice .COM or .NET name--which may well barely relate to the registrant’s purpose--or use of a domain name that may be confusingly similar with numerous other .COM or .NET domain names. In addition, some existing generic top-level domain names, though newer, such as .XXX, may be inappropriate for most registrants for content associational reasons, while country-code top-level domains, though numerous, are not useful or appropriate for many registrants for geographical associational reasons. Thus, .网址 will increase competition for registrants who want a domain name that clearly, effectively and efficiently associates them with websites for their domain name purposes as well as for those registrants who want to reach Internet users who identify with it.

.网址 will also increase pricing competition in the top-level domain name space by assuring that .网址 domain names are priced at levels that are appropriate to the vast majority of potential registrants to whom .网址 is targeted.

Internet consumers benefit from this increase in competition, as less confusing and clearly associated .网址 domain names will make it easier for them to know that the owner of the second-level domain name is a member of or seeks to associate with websites.

Likewise, .网址 will help significantly increase differentiation in the top-level domain space. Existing leading generic top-level domain names, such as .COM, .NET and .ORG no longer require and no longer represent any real differentiation in association, purpose or content. Newer top-level domains, such as .XXX, .AERO and .MUSEUM, do represent differentiation, but are either inappropriate or unavailable to most prospective registrants at whom .网址 is targeted. .网址 will further increase differentiation by allowing registrants to be associated, and consumers to know that the registrant seeks to associate with websites.

In terms of user experience, .网址 will provide users with a top-level domain name that allows them to easily recognize that the registrant seeks to have its second-level domain name and content associated with websites. We believe this will be of substantial benefit to the Internet user community in generally--and the websites market specifically--as it will allow them to more easily and more readily understand the purpose or motives of the registrant’s website or email, allowing for better, more efficient and more effective use of their time online.

On balance, and for the reasons set forth above, a .网址 domain will be in the public’s interest; it will serve as a catalyst to promoting communication; and it will benefit the entire Internet community.
gTLDFull Legal NameE-mail suffixDetail
.bayernBayern Connect GmbHgmail.comView
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The .BAYERN top-level domain will enable the Free State of Bavaria, with its strong national identity and unique cultural background, to have its own name space on the world wide web. The strong online presence of the Free State of Bavaria will greatly promote the recognition and identity of this region, open up new opportunities for businesses and offer the population of Bavaria a new domain name space for their purposes.

In light of the, under 18(a), mentioned figures and data, the demand for a .BAYERN top-level domain is high and the many small and medium sized companies in Bavaria will greatly profit from this new extension, in addition to the Free State’s population and economy in general.

Therefore the government of the Free State of Bavaria fully supports the implementation and operation of the .BAYERN top-level domain. The government, like us, strongly believes in the benefits of the .BAYERN top-level domain, for the population as well as for the economy of the Free State of Bavaria. The government endorses our application to manage and operate the .BAYERN top-level domain in all respects. The implementation of the .BAYERN top-level domain shall be carried out in close cooperation with the Free State of Bavaria.

REGISTRANT BENEFIT
Over the past decade, the market for domain name registrations has grown at a tremendous pace. From 2000 to 2010, registrations increased from 40 million to 200 million globally. 2011 showed a growth of approximately 9%, which was significantly higher than the previous year’s 6% growth, ending third quarter 2011 with approximately 220 million domain names registered globally. Approximately 60% of these are gTLDs, while the remaining 40% are comprised of ccTLDs. More specifically, gTLD growth was approximately 8% in 2011, while ccTLD growth exceeded 11%.

Taking into account the new opportunities available with new gTLDs, growth is expected to continue in all sections of the domain name industry. It will allow registrants to reach more targeted audiences and increase their web presence. Additionally, it will allow registrants to more closely identify with a particular market segment.

Existing TLDs, such as .COM and .NET, do not provide adequate solutions for many registrants. Domain names that relate to the registrants’ business, interests, or associations are often already registered, priced exorbitantly high, or available options are unsuitable. Additionally, other options, such as ccTLDs, do not provide adequate alternatives as a registrant may not have any geographic relation or meet the criteria associated with other gTLDs such as .MUSEUM or .AERO. Therefore, the only available opportunity to pursue a relevant and useful domain name registration may be through a brand new registration of a gTLD.

At present, no specific .BAYERN domain name, or useful top-level alternative domain name, exists for the people, organizations and businesses that associate themselves with the Free State of Bavaria (Bayern) , or people, organizations and business that want to communicate with them. Those wanting a domain name that indicates some level of association with or recognition of the Free State of Bavaria could seek a second level domain name such as “.COM,” “.us” or “.info,” but such domain (or similar names) are not readily available under the limited number of existing gTLDs, and more importantly only provide a secondary (at best) or weak (at worst) relationship between the domain name and the Free State of Bavaria , which we believe is the primary goal of the registrant of such Bavarian-related names. From a competitive perspective, registrants that want a domain name that effectively and efficiently shows an association with the Free State of Bavaria, or registrants that want a domain name that allows them to identifiably communicate with people who associate or identify with the Free State of Bavaria, face a domain name marketplace that provides them with few if any options for their purposes. The .BAYERN top-level domain will resolve this problem by providing registrants with an efficient, effective, prominent, instantly understood way of showing their association with the Free State of Bavaria, and provide those registrants who desire it a domain that effectively communicates information to such Internet users in an identifiable way, while at the same time providing competition with existing TLDs and new gTLDs that will be approved by ICANN, thereby increasing consumer choice.

We believe that the .BAYERN top-level domain will add significantly to the competition and differentiation in the top-level domain space, both for registrants and Internet consumers. With respect to competition, registrants are presently extremely limited in their choice of domain names that allow them to efficiently and effectively associate themselves with the Free State of Bavaria. The availability of useful, effective, straight-forward domain names on existing top-level domains, such as .COM, .NET and .ORG, are few and far between, or may be for sale at prices that are out of reach for most. .BAYERN will allow registrants to obtain useful, effective, straight-forward domain names rather than be forced to purchase, for example, their fifth, sixth or even later choice .COM or .NET name, which may well barely relate to the registrant’s purpose or use of the domain name and⁄or may be confusingly similar with numerous other .COM or .NET domain names. In addition, some existing generic top-level domain names, though newer, such as .XXX, may be inappropriate for most registrants for content associational reasons, while country-code top-level domains, though numerous, are not useful or appropriate for many registrants for geographical associational reasons. Thus, .BAYERN will increase competition for registrants who want a domain name that clearly, effectively and efficiently associates them with the Free State of Bavaria for their domain name purposes as well as for those registrants who want to reach Internet users who identify with the Free State of Bavaria.

.BAYERN will also increase pricing competition in the top-level domain name space by assuring that .BAYERN domain names are priced at levels that are appropriate to the vast majority of potential registrants to whom .BAYERN is targeted.

INTERNET USER BENEFIT
Internet consumers also benefit from this increase in competition, as less confusing and clearly associated .BAYERN domain names will make it easier for them to know that the owner of the second-level domain name seeks to associate with the Free State of Bavaria.

Likewise, .BAYERN will significantly help increase differentiation in the top-level domain space. Existing leading generic top-level domains names, such as .COM, .NET and .ORG no longer require and no longer represent any real differentiation in association, purpose or content. Newer top level domains, such as .XXX, .AERO and .MUSEUM, do represent differentiation, but are either inappropriate or unavailable to most prospective registrants at whom .BAYERN is targeted. .BAYERN will further increase differentiation by allowing registrants to be associated, and consumers to know that the registrant seeks to associate with the Free State of Bavaria.

The goal of .BAYERN is to provide users with a top-level domain name that easily allows them to recognize that the registrant seeks to have its second-level domain name (and content) associated with the Free State of Bavaria. We believe this will be of substantial benefit to the Internet user community, as it will allow them to more easily and more readily understand the purpose or motives of the registrant’s website or email, allowing for better, more efficient and more effective use of their time online.

OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION
Outreach and communications will both be important to .BAYERN achieving its projected benefits.

Outreach to targeted potential registrants will be important to .BAYERN achieving its projected benefits by allowing it to cost-effectively and quickly market to the most likely potential registrants, and to promote the ways in which .BAYERN will allow them to associate themselves with the Free State of Bavaria , and how their association with .BAYERN helps further their interest and that of the Free State of Bavaria. To achieve this outreach, we intend to leverage our existing relationships with groups with an association with the Free State of Bavaria, as well as engage in advertising, promotion, social media outreach, and other methods of reaching potential registrants. .BAYERN believes that outreach to people and organizations that already identify with the Free State of Bavaria will give it the best chance of launching the top-level domain as strongly as possible, giving it the best chance of long-term viability, and thus the best chance of providing its projected benefits to registrants of a positive association with the Free State of Bavaria, while at the same time promoting the Free State of Bavaria.

Communications will be as important to .BAYERN achieving its projected benefits as outreach. .BAYERN will be an open top-level domain, available to anyone interested in having a .BAYERN domain name, and .BAYERN’s best chance of establishing itself as a viable top-level domain is to have as many potential registrants as possible know about .BAYERN and why a .BAYERN domain name may be right for them. However, many potential registrants for .BAYERN domain names who may want to associate their Internet presence with the Free State of Bavaria , or use a .BAYERN domain name to communicate with those who do, will be missed by .BAYERN’s direct outreach efforts. Communications, in particular communication via social networks and blogs, will be helpful in reaching these potential registrants.

Communications will help .BAYERN realize its goal of serving registrants beyond the Free State of Bavaria. Given our finite marketing resources, communications through free resources, such as social networks and blogs will allow us to promote .BAYERN to members of the international community who want a domain name that associates them with the Free State of Bavaria, or use a .BAYERN domain name to communicate with those who do.

Communications will help .BAYERN keep in touch with its registrants, to understand how they would like to see .BAYERN develop, and to understand how we can improve our policies, registration rules, or other aspects of our operations or administration.