Changes

Following communication sent to [[ICANN]] and the African Union<Ref name="DCA Letter to Africa Union">[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/bekele-to-shinkaiye-12jul12-en DCA Letter: Opposition to the Application by UniForum ZA Central Registry for the .AFRICA gTLD] Published & Retrieved 12 July 2012</ref>, DCA appealed to members of the U.S. Congress in February, 2013. DCA wrote and reiterated their issues with the manner in which UniForum received and carried out the AU's endorsement. DCA notes that it does not feel there are sufficient mechanisms for appeal or dealing with illegalities over the new gTLD program and requested the U.S. Congress to intervene immediately to create an independent  New gTLD Ombudsman for the entire ICANN New gTLD program, where such grievances will be heard and addressed<Ref name="DCA Letter to Congress">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Letter-to-US-Senate-on-UniForum-escalation-21st-February-2013-from-DotConnectAfrica.pdf DCA Letter to US Congress about Africa,DotConnectAfrica.org] Published & Retrieved 22 Feb 2013</ref>

Following communication sent to [[ICANN]] and the African Union<Ref name="DCA Letter to Africa Union">[http://www.icann.org/en/news/correspondence/bekele-to-shinkaiye-12jul12-en DCA Letter: Opposition to the Application by UniForum ZA Central Registry for the .AFRICA gTLD] Published & Retrieved 12 July 2012</ref>, DCA appealed to members of the U.S. Congress in February, 2013. DCA wrote and reiterated their issues with the manner in which UniForum received and carried out the AU's endorsement. DCA notes that it does not feel there are sufficient mechanisms for appeal or dealing with illegalities over the new gTLD program and requested the U.S. Congress to intervene immediately to create an independent  New gTLD Ombudsman for the entire ICANN New gTLD program, where such grievances will be heard and addressed<Ref name="DCA Letter to Congress">[http://www.dotconnectafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Letter-to-US-Senate-on-UniForum-escalation-21st-February-2013-from-DotConnectAfrica.pdf DCA Letter to US Congress about Africa,DotConnectAfrica.org] Published & Retrieved 22 Feb 2013</ref>

DCA recently reported the current status of their appeal at congress as positive.<Ref name="DCA Letter to Africa Union">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1102516344150/archive/1113611499513.html DotConnectAfrica Update: Status of our gTLD Application & Current Engagements with the U.S.Congress] Published 30 May 2013</ref>

DCA recently reported the current status of their appeal at congress as positive.<Ref name="DCA Update on US Congress engagement">[http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1102516344150/archive/1113611499513.html DotConnectAfrica Update: Status of our gTLD Application & Current Engagements with the U.S.Congress] Published 30 May 2013</ref>

==References==

==References==