New gTLD Basics
New Internet Extensions

Agenda•Overview about domain names, gTLD timeline and theNew gTLD Program•

Why is ICANN doing this; potential impact of thisinitiative to businesses, governments, Internetcommunities and users•

Program – who, when, what, how, how much•

Where to get more information

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Internet - An Evolving
Ecosystem
What’s next?
2000+

Social Media, Apps, Mobile Internet and more
VoIP/TV

Blogs
Social Networking

1990+

Music/Images/Video
Search Engines
Wireless Connectivity

1991
1972
1969

World Wide Web

E-mailArpanet
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The Anatomy of aDomain NameFirst or Top-Level
Second-Level
Third-Levelw w w. m e e t i n g s . i c a n n . o r g4

The Anatomy of aDomain NameFirst or Top-Level
Second-Level
Third-Levelw w w. m e e t i n g s . i c a n n . o r g5

Terminology Clarifications• gTLD = generic Top-Level Domain•

Also known as an extension, label, string, suffix…

•Series of characters that make up part of your Internetaddress• ccTLD = country code Top-Level Domain• IDN – Internationalized Domain Name•

Domain name represented by local language characters,or letter equivalents

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ROOT
.mil.org.com .asia .gov .jobs.int.info .edu
.net .name.mobi .museum .pro .post.travel .biz.tel .xxx .aero .arpa.coop .cat.dm.jp .va .ws .be.sg .eg.nl .tr .cn.hr.cl.mx.jm .tv .py.cv.pt.kr .is.au.cc.br.mo .eu.nz.ru

New gTLD Program

Fast Track Program

New gTLDs

IDN ccTLDs.city.acronym.generic.gIDNs.brand.community.region‫ﻣﺻﺭ‬‫ﺍﻣﺎﺭﺍﺕ‬.
. 香港.சிங்கப்
. ไทย.рф

‫ﺍﻟﺳﻌﻭﺩﻳﺔ‬.

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DNS - A Complex EcosystemgTLD
Registries

ccTLD
Registries

Registrant

Registrars

gTLDs + some ccTLDs

Resellers8What is a gTLD Registry?
• Is a business with very specific technical requirements• Mandatory Agreement with ICANN• Is the authoritative, master database of all domain names
registered in each top-level domain• Keeps the master database and also generates the "zone file"which allows computers to route Internet traffic to and from
top-level domains anywhere in the world• Today, Internet users don't interact directly with the registry
operator; users can register names by using ICANNAccredited Registrars

What is the New gTLD
Program?
• An initiative that will enable the introduction ofunlimited generic top-level domain names orextensions (both ASCII and IDN) into the domainname space• Managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned
Names and Numbers (ICANN)

10gTLD Timeline

Predating ICANN(before 1998).com .edu.gov .int .mil .net
.org .arpa

2004 Round.aero .biz .coop.info .museum.name .pro

.asia .cat .xxx
.jobs .mobi .tel
.travel .post

2000 RoundNew gTLD Program
Policy development
Dec 2005 to Sep 200711

Public Participationand the Draft ApplicantGuidebook• October 2008 (version 1)• May 2009 (excerpts)• March 2009 (version 2)• October 2009 (version 3)• February 10 (excerpts)• May 2010 (version 4)• November 2010 (proposed final version)• April 2011 Discussion Draft• May 2011 Applicant Guidebook

ICANN Board
Policy approvalJun 2008

Board
Approval ofFinal
Guidebook

Communications
Campaign
20 June 2011

Publication
Final
ApplicantGuidebook

Program Launch
12 January –12 April 2012

On-going status
reporting on
ICANN’s website

12Why Expand the Top-Level?
• Remove existing limitations to ASCII gTLDs which
do not reflect growing Internet reality and needs• Create platform to innovation in the industry andInternet• Open doors to increase choice and competition inthe market place

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ICANN’s Mission andNew gTLDs
1998 - founding documents“The new corporation ultimately should … 3) oversee policy for
determining the circumstances under which
new TLDs are added to the root system”
ICANN/U.S.A. government agreements“Define and implement a predictable strategy
for selecting new TLDs”
2009 - Affirmation of Commitments (9.3)
Promote competition, consumer trust and consumer choice14

Potential Impact - Businesses• Opportunity for investment• More choice and competition• Platform to innovation; new business model
opportunities• Brand management and online marketing practices• Impact to industry sectors; security; control; userbehavior• Upgrade systems/applications to accept new TLDs
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Potential Impact Governments & Communities• Increase of online cultural, linguistic,
geographic communities• More globally and culturally inclusive internetwith IDNs
• Local ccTLDs• Geographic names
16Potential Impact– Internet Users• More choice; innovation; competition• Online cultural, linguistic, geographic
communities• New ways to find information, products andservices

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Who Can Apply?
Entities from anywhere in the world thatmeet the pre-defined criteria andrequirements as outlined in the Applicant
Guidebook
ATTENTION!
• Not for individuals• This is a business commitment to become a
REGISTRY!

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How to Apply?
• Online• TLD Application System (TAS)• will be accessible via www.icann.org• Process application in English• Answer questions; upload
documents• Critical deadlines19

When can I apply?

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What do I Need to Apply?
 Review Applicant Guidebook for details
 Get strategic third parties involved early Attention to additional requirements for geographic,
community and IDN applications
 Review deadlines

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How Much?
Evaluation fee - US$ 185,000• Paid to ICANN• US $5,000 which is due upon TAS registration• Refunds apply in certain cases• Other fees may apply – might not be paid to ICANN

On-going Registry Fees
• US$ 25,000 annual Registry fee• Transaction fee US$ 0.25

These are evaluation andRegistry fees only. Consider
carefully the costs forrunning a Registry.
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Evaluation Process
at a Glance
Application
PeriodInitial
Evaluation
Module 2

Module 1

Administrative
Check

Processed by
ICANN & ThirdParties

Transition toDelegation
Module 5

ExtendedEvaluation
Module 2

Objections &Dispute Resolution
Module 3StringContention
Module 423Straightforward Evaluation Path
Application
PeriodInitial
Evaluation

Transition toDelegation

Module 1

Module 2

Module 5

Check forApplication
Completeness• Background check• String Similarity• DNS Stability• Geographical names• Technical/Operationalcapability• Financial capability• Registry Services• Contract Execution• Pre-delegation check

24Variables in Evaluation Path
ExtendedEvaluation
Module 2• Technical/Operational• Financial• Geographical Names• Registry Services

Objections &Dispute Resolution
Module 3• String Confusion• Legal Rights• Limited Public Interest• Community Objection• Independent Objector

String Contention
Module 4

Plan forAdditional Fees& ProcessingTime• Community Priority Evaluation• Auction

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Grounds for Objection

String Confusion

Legal Rights

LimitedPublic interest

CommunityObjection

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What Should I do Now?
 Evaluate if the New gTLD Program
is for you Review Applicant Guidebook
 Get educated about the Registrybusiness and the DNS industry
 Understand what is needed to get
ready27

If I Choose NOT to Apply…
Monitor the program to understand: Impact to brand/trademark
 Impact to community andgeographic names
 Potential Industry trends
 Competitors actions
 Changes to Internet User behavior
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More Information…
• www.icann.org/newgtlds• New gTLD Program web-pages• Applicant Guidebook• Factsheets• Global Events• Public Comments• Status Reports
more…

• Write to: newgtld@icann.org
NewgTLDsICANN29

Thank You