Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
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New gTLD Program
Introducing new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) is central to fostering choice and competition in domain registration services, and as such is significant to the promotion of ICANN’s core values. The evolution of the namespace towards an enhanced diversity of services and service providers must be planned and managed effectively to preserve the security, stability, and global interoperability of the Internet.
The proposed policy to guide the introduction of new gTLDs was created by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) through its bottom-up, multi-stakeholder policy development process. The elements addressed in the development of the new gTLD policy involve technical, economic, operational, legal, public policy, and other considerations. The intended result is a straightforward, fair, and efficient process for allocating new gTLDs.
With the approval of the GNSO Policy Development Process (PDP) by the ICANN Board of Directors, ICANN is now at a transition point, focusing on developing implementable solutions to the GNSO recommendations. This page is intended to be a central location for resources relating to new gTLDs. As this transition from policy to implementation moves forward, this page will present up-to-date information. Suggestions for other resources and information to be included on this page can be submitted to newgtld@icann.org .
News and Announcements
Policy development updates:
- The ICANN Board approved the GNSO PDP at the Paris ICANN meeting. Staff will continue to work on implementation of the recommendations and operational readiness. (26 June 2008)
- The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) completed its policy development work on new gTLDs and approved a set of recommendations, by a supermajority vote, at its meeting on 6 September 2007.
Program implementation development updates:
ICANN continues to develop potential implementation models of the GNSO Policy recommendations for the introduction of New gTLDs.
- ICANN staff has selected developers to build the TLD Application System (TAS) and to develop a visual similarity algorithm. The main business requirements have been indentified and development work should begin soon. TAS is the web-based system to be used to receive and manage incoming new gTLD applications. The algorithm will help to identify new gTLD applications that may be identical or too similar to co-exist in the namespace with existing TLDs, reserved names, or other applied for TLDs. (18 June 2008)
- At the request of the ICANN Board during the Delhi Meeting, the GNSO and ICANN staff met in Los Angeles on April 10 and 11 2008 to discuss progress made in implementing GNSO recommendation. Complete agenda and presentation materials from the face-to-face meetings are available at http://gnso.icann.org/. (18June2008)
- ICANN staff has selected Power Auctions LLC as ICANN's auction design consultant for various auction needs, including (1) the development of models for the resolution of contention among applicants for new generic TLD strings, (2) for the disposition of data from failed registrars or registries, and 3) for the allocation of SC SLDs. (June 13 2008)
- Background Information Regarding Previous New GTLD Application Rounds. (13 February 2008)
- Public Comments Requested on DNS Stability: the effect of New gTLDs on the Internet Domain Name System In preparing for the expected implementation of the gTLD policy recommendations, staff is conducting some review and analysis of the technical issues involved in this development. The addition of gTLDs to the namespace is an expansion of the DNS on a potentially large scale, to include many more names at the top level. ICANN is publishing a paper called DNS Stability: the effect of New gTLDs on the Internet Domain Name System [PDF, 53K] to solicit informed input on the technical issues relevant to the addition of new gTLDs, and to provide transparency toward how it will interpret and implement this recommendation. The goal is a clear set of rules that will be available to potential new gTLD applicants; so that it is known from the outset what tests will be applied to each application.Comments can be viewed at http://forum.icann.org/lists/new-gtlds-dns-stability/ . (6 February 2008)
Previous Updates
Resources
- Anticipated Timeline
- Draft New gTLD Evaluation Process
- Policy work on New gTLDs
- Final Report on the Introduction of New gTLDs
- Summary of the GNSO’s recommendations (Los Angeles Meeting Workshop)
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