Solicitation Number: 1331L5-19-R-1335-0001 Volume 1 – Technical Capability This page is intentionally left blank. Use or disclosure of data and information contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal. Page II Solicitation Number: 1331L5-19-R-1335-0001 Volume 1 – Technical Capability Contents Cover Letter ............................................................................................................. 1 Executive Summary .................................................................................................. 2 Neustar: A Track Record of Exceptional Performance ...................................................................... 3 Neustar: Delivering Security, Stability and Performance .................................................................. 4 Neustar: A Unique Understanding of the usTLD Namespace............................................................ 5 Neustar: A Proven Commitment to Invest in Growth ....................................................................... 7 Neustar: Guaranteed High Performance with No Transition Risk ..................................................... 8 Neustar: Providing the Best Value Proposal ...................................................................................... 8 Technical Capability Factors .................................................................................... 11 1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 18 1.1 The State of the usTLD is Secure .................................................................................... 18 1.2 Neustar Provides the Best Value for the usTLD .............................................................. 19 1.3 Neustar has Significant Strengths as a Registry Provider ............................................... 23 1.4 Neustar’s Overall Vision for Future Management of the usTLD ..................................... 25 2 Scope of Services ........................................................................................... 28 2.1 Community Consultation ................................................................................................ 28 2.2 Robust and Reliable DNS ................................................................................................ 30 2.3 Increased Use of the usTLD ............................................................................................ 32 2.4 Infrastructure Management ........................................................................................... 33 2.5 The usTLD Environment: Stable, Secure and Flexible..................................................... 34 2.6 Stability of the usTLD ...................................................................................................... 35 2.7 Technical and Administrative Standards ........................................................................ 37 2.8 Intellectual Property Protections ................................................................................... 39 2.9 Stakeholder Communications ........................................................................................ 40 2.10 ccTLD Best Practice ......................................................................................................... 45 2.11 Promote Competition and Consumer Choice ................................................................. 47 3 Description of Services ................................................................................... 48 3.1 Manage, Maintain, and Operate the usTLD ................................................................... 48 3.2 Location of Primary Operations...................................................................................... 49 Use or disclosure of data and information contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal. Page III Solicitation Number: 1331L5-19-R-1335-0001 Volume 1 – Technical Capability 3.3 Performance of the Contract .......................................................................................... 51 3.4 Costs and Fees ................................................................................................................ 51 3.5 Collaboration with Contracting Officer .......................................................................... 53 4 Core Registry Functions ................................................................................. 55 4.1 Registry DNS ................................................................................................................... 56 4.2 Zone File(s) ..................................................................................................................... 65 4.3 WHOIS ............................................................................................................................ 69 4.4 Locality WHOIS ............................................................................................................... 79 4.5 Data Escrow .................................................................................................................... 80 4.6 Compliance with IETF and ICANN Standards .................................................................. 82 4.7 Promotion of the usTLD.................................................................................................. 84 4.8 Registrar Support .......................................................................................................... 127 4.9 Delegated Manager Compliance Monitoring ............................................................... 129 4.10 Customer Support ........................................................................................................ 131 4.11 Security and Stability .................................................................................................... 140 4.12 DNSSEC ......................................................................................................................... 155 4.13 Reserved Names ........................................................................................................... 160 4.14 Multistakeholder Consultation ..................................................................................... 160 5 Core Policy Requirements ............................................................................ 167 5.1 United States Nexus Requirements .............................................................................. 167 5.2 Registrar and Registrant Agreements .......................................................................... 170 5.3 Dispute Resolution and Sunrise .................................................................................... 172 5.4 ccTLD Policy Framework ............................................................................................... 178 5.5 Multistakeholder Consultation Process ....................................................................... 179 5.6 Policy Implementation ................................................................................................. 181 5.7 Code of Conduct ........................................................................................................... 203 6 Locality Based usTLD Structure Functions ..................................................... 205 6.1 Service for Existing Delegates and Registrants ............................................................. 205 6.2 Undelegated Third-Level Sub-Domains ....................................................................... 212 6.3 Modernized Locality-Based usTLD Processes ............................................................. 213 6.4 Coordination of Locality-Based usTLD Users ............................................................... 214 Use or disclosure of data and information contained on this sheet is subject to the restriction on the title page of this proposal. Page IV Solicitation Number: 1331L5-19-R-1335-0001 Volume 1 – Technical Capability 6.5 WHOIS .......................................................................................................................... 214 6.6 Summary ...................................................................................................................... 216 7 Second-Level usTLD Space Functions ............................................................ 217 7.1 Shared Registration System .......................................................................................... 217 7.2 Registrar Accreditation ................................................................................................. 219 7.3 Other Policies ............................................................................................................... 221 7.4 WHOIS .......................................................................................................................... 222 8 Enhanced usTLD Functions ........................................................................... 226 8.1 Functional Enhancements ............................................................................................ 226 8.2 Enhancement of the usTLD During the Current Term .................................................. 227 8.3 Planned Enhancement of the usTLD ............................................................................ 231 8.4 Multistakeholder Consultation Process ......................................................................