YNOT – During a Thursday teleconference, the board of directors for the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers resolved to allow ICM Registry’s application to establish and administer the dot-xxx adult-content-specific sponsored Top Level Domain to move forward toward approval.In its entirety, the resolution reads:

Whereas, ICANN’s General Counsel has completed the expedited due diligence regarding ICM Registry, as directed by the Board, and has concluded that ICM has represented that its Application for the .XXX sTLD is still current and that there have been no negative changes in ICM’s qualifications.

RESOLVED (2010.08.05.23), once the Board has received the above public comment summary and recommendation from the ICANN Staff regarding the proposed registry agreement for the .XXX sTLD, the Board shall at its next possible meeting, consider this recommendation, and determine, consistent with the ICANN Bylaws, whether a GAC consultation shall be required.

On Friday, ICANN spokeswoman Michele Jourdan said the board expects to post the most current ICM documents and open a 30-day public comment period “within the next few days.” She apologized for being unable to provide a more precise timeframe.

Free Speech Coalition Executive Director Diane Duke said the adult entertainment industry should be ready and willing to read the documentation and provide honest, polite comments about the proposal when the comment period opens, whenever that may be.

“FSC has emphasized all along that dot-xxx is far from being passed, and that is still the case,” she said Friday from Hollywood, Fla., where she is scheduled to participate in a Saturday panel discussion about the proposed sTLD during The AVN Show. “We will continue to organize the industry in voicing its opposition to this dangerous and costly ‘TLD’ though all avenues available to us, including, but not limited to, the upcoming ICANN public comment period.”

According to Duke, ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee remains opposed to the adoption of dot-xxx. In its most recent communication on the subject, the GAC recommended denying ICM’s application for dot-xxx, in part because the so-called sponsoring community is opposed to the sTLD. The ICANN board may yet face opposition from the GAC if the board feels it should consult the committee again after the public comment period has closed, Duke noted.

“FSC will review the materials posted [for public comment] and provide a public comment, and we encourage every professional in the industry to do the same,” she said. “We will initiate a call-to-action for the industry once those materials have been posted and reviewed. Stay tuned. We will let you know when and how to respond.”

ICM Registry President Stuart Lawley was unavailable for comment at press time.

The Free Speech Coalition is the trade association of the adult entertainment industry.