The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has responded to ICANN President,Rod Beckstrom letter .
Rod Beckstrom issued yesterday a statement in response to the American Association of National Advertisers assertions .ICANN CEO and President said in the letter that "the "assertions in your letter are either incorrect or problematic in several respects. Perhaps the most severe mischaracterisations concern the ICANN process." Now,Bob Liodice,ANA's president and CEO, responded to Rod Beckstrom's letter ,saying :
"We are not surprised by ICANN’s response although disappointed that ICANN chose to defend its process and deny any doubt as to consensus. Rather, ICANN needs to respond to the real concern from the brand owner community.
There is no question that this Program will increase brand owners’ costs by billions of dollars. We should not be debating if 40 or 45 comment periods were held; instead, ICANN should be justifying its economic analysis regarding the Program against the staggering costs to brands.
ANA welcomes further discussions and an opportunity for further economic study to quantify the need for more TLDs and what it will mean for industry and other stakeholders, such as the public interest community who will face the same brand dilution concerns."