As a founding member of ICANN’s ccNSO, I feel like a proud parent every time I think about how the organization has “grown up” right before my eyes. The Country Code names Supporting Organization, or ccNSO, was created by ccTLD managers in 2003. It’s a policy development body within the ICANN structure which addresses global country-code top level domain issues. In other words, the ccNSO gives country code domain managers a voice and a platform within the ICANN community. 

Today, the ccNSO is a smooth running organization with more than 100 members who meet regularly to share commercial, political and technical information that helps to the ensure the security and stability of the Internet’s infrastructure around the world.  But this success did not happen overnight. We took the time to formulate a plan and to ensure that the concerns of the ccTLD community were heard and addressed from the very start.  We wanted to strike the right balance between ensuring that the ccNSO would remain an independent body, while still being an integral part of the larger ICANN community.  I think we have been successful in doing so.

While the ccNSO remains a tight club and fiercely loyal, we value the opportunity to address ccTLD community issues during the ICANN Public Meetings for public comment and feedback — and to help the industry grow around the world.

I was lucky to watch the ccNSO grow and evolve while working as the Peruvian ccTLD manager.  Now,  after a few years away, as I return in my new role as the cTLD Manager for the .CO domain, I’m very proud to see how the ccNSO has evolved into such a strong and active organization.  In fact, a former ccTLD manager, Peter Dengate Thrush, even chairs the ICANN Board of Directors! 

This is a new era not only for .CO but also for the ccTLDs, where a strong and successful ccNSO will help guide us to an even more successful future!