AFNIC Announces EPP

AFNIC's consultative committees agree on the implementation of EPP

AFNIC's consultative committees have convened on the 13th and the 14thof March 2008, following an intense semester when AFNIC has passed onemillion registrations in .fr.

A number of important changes have been outlined, like the newdistinction made between .fr registrars and AFNIC members. As .frregistrars are no more automatically AFNIC's members, it was a successto note that over 70 of the registrars are now voluntarily members,along with 12 users representing legal entities, 11 users representingnatural persons and 32 members from the International College of AFNIC.946 registrars are currently registered as AFNIC customers.These figures show the diversity of AFNIC membership, and the support ofthe community to the multi-stakeholder approach within the .fr.

Technical changes have also been discussed, with the decision taken tomigrate the registration system to EPP, in order to meet the needsexpressed by a majority of registrars and to match the markets currentstandards.This work, a top priority one for AFNIC in the next months, will be donetogether by AFNIC and some voluntary registrars, in a working group setfor this occasion, aiming at launching EPP within 12 to 18 months.

The AFNIC team is proud of what as been accomplished recently, like theopening of the .fr to individuals, and of all the efforts made to make.fr ever simpler, speeder, and more affordable.Honoured by the renewed confidence put in the AFNIC by the communityduring these consultative committees, we hope the public consultationaiming at designating the registries for the French territory InternetTop Level Domains will start soon.