closed Proposed Language for Draft Sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook

Outcome

In total, ten Public Comments were submitted by stakeholders from across the community on the proposed language for draft sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB). Submissions tended to find that the proposed language was consistent with the Final Report on the new gTLD Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) Policy Development Process (Final Report) outputs. There were also suggestions for amendments and/or clarification of the language on certain topics. All the Public Comments received will be carefully considered by ICANN org. Any changes required to the proposed language will be reviewed with the SubPro Implementation Review Team (IRT).

ICANN org ensures that requirements of the Next Round are made clear for applicants by 1) soliciting input from the ICANN community on the proposed language of the AGB; and 2) collaborating with the IRT to make sure it is consistent with SubPro Final Report outputs.

What We Received Input On

This Public Comment proceeding is the first in a series of proceedings that will seek input from the ICANN community on proposed language for the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) for the New gTLD Program: Next Round.

In this first proceeding, ICANN org published the following draft sections of the AGB:

• Predictability Framework (based on the outputs from Topic 2 of the Final Report);
• Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Guidelines (based on the outputs from Topic 8 of the Final Report);
• Conflicts of Interest Process for Vendors and Subcontractors (based on the outputs from Topic 8 of the Final Report);
• Applicant Freedom of Expression (based on the outputs from Topic 10 of the Final Report);
• Universal Acceptance (based on the outputs from Topic 11 of the Final Report);
• Reserved and Blocked Names (based on outputs from Topic 21 of the Final Report);
• Geographic Names (Work Track 5 Final Report to the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process Working Group);

Specifically, ICANN org is looking for input from the community on whether the proposed language is consistent with the relevant Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) Final Report outputs. It should be noted that the proposed language has been developed in collaboration with the Subsequent Procedures Implementation Review Team.

Background

On 18 February 2021, the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) approved the Final Report on the new gTLD Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process (Final Report) and transmitted it to the ICANN Board for consideration as required by the ICANN Bylaws. The Final Report presents final recommendations, implementation guidance, and other outputs relating to the Next Round of new gTLDs.

In the 16 March 2023 Board Resolution, the ICANN Board directed ICANN org to begin the implementation on a subset of outputs from the Final Report. Subsequently, an Implementation Review Team (IRT) was formed and, since its first meeting on 16 May 2023, has been assisting ICANN org with implementation of the outputs. The Board has since taken additional action on further subsets of outputs from the Final Report, including on 10 September and 26 October 2023.

Supporting Information