The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will...
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will process the applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) in one batch, but now is asking interested parties how to deal with the issue of who should get to the…
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root zone first and thereby be able to operate. After heavy criticism at its recent meeting in Prague the private governance body stopped its so-called “digital archery” program, which aimed to create up to four batches of nearly 2,000 new TLDs. With only one batch to be sent through the evaluation steps at the same time, final publication of the results would only be possible next year in June, which would put back the start of the first new gTLDs to late 2013, six month later than expected. The ICANN request for comments now is exploring how people would like to see the “timing of the release of the evaluation results to the applicants” and also “the timing of the release of applications into the pre-delegation steps of contract execution and pre-delegation testing” (http://xrl.us/bniwb2). By now applicants and ICANN have realized that some steps in between might complicate the processing. Jim Galvin, director of strategic relationships and technical standards at gTLD registry Afilias, noted that applicants for new TLDs were being asked by ICANN to set up their systems to be tested in order to get their contract, but the IP address registries only delegate new IP address resources when need can be demonstrated by a contract. Galvin said he expected that an alternative would be found to releasing all applications at the same time next year. A lot of conversations were happening on the issue and the request now would allow all parties to make proposals. A solution also has to be found, according to ICANN’s request for comments, for a metering of new gTLDs going to the root, as it is clear that the root cannot be flooded with all at once. While many observers point to a natural smoothing out because applications will face very different evaluation processes, with some also getting objections either by competitors or requests from the Governmental Advisory Committee, a solid process map still has to be established. The GAC said it will issue early warning notices on the new TLDs shortly after the Toronto ICANN meeting in October, and potential GAC advice -- for which there now has been established a new dedicated registry on the ICANN website -- in April.