New gTLD Basics

2  Overview about domain names, gTLD timeline and the New gTLD Program  Why is ICANN doing this; potential impact of this initiative to businesses, governments, Internet communities and users Program – who, when, what, how  Where to get more information Agenda 2

3 The Anatomy of a Domain Name 3 First or Top-Level Second-Level Third-Level

4 The Anatomy of a Domain Name 4 First or Top-Level Second-Level Third-Level

5 Terminology Clarifications  gTLD = generic Top-Level Domain Also known as an extension, label, string, suffix… Series of characters that make up part of your Internet address  ccTLD = country code Top-Level Domain  IDN – Internationalized Domain Name Domain name represented by local language characters, or letter equivalents 5

6 ROOT New gTLDs IDN ccTLDs..brand.generic.city.acronym.gIDNs.region.community. امارات.рф السعودية مصر. 香港. சிங்கப்பூர். ไทย 6 New gTLD ProgramFast Track Program.name.gov.mobi.asia.arpa.edu.com.cat.jobs.travel.museum.net.tel.org.int.info.biz.mil.aero.pro.post.coop.xxx gTLD.jp.br.nl.eg.eu.mx.cc.cv.dm.hr.py.ru.sg.pt.va.ws.nz.au.mo.kr.jm.tv.be.cl.is.tr.cn ccTLD

7 DNS - A Complex Ecosystem 7 ccTLD Registries Registrars gTLDs + some ccTLDs Resellers gTLD Registries Registrant

8 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 ICANN-Accredited Registrars 8

9 What is the New gTLD Program?  An initiative that will enable the introduction of unlimited generic top-level domain names or extensions (both ASCII and IDN) into the domain name space  Managed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) 9

10 gTLD Timeline 10 Predating ICANN (before 1998) 2000 Round 2004 Round.com.edu.gov.int.mil.net.org.arpa. aero.biz.coop.info.museum.name.pro.asia.cat.xxx.jobs.mobi.tel.travel.post New gTLD Program Policy development Dec 2005 to Sep 2007

11 ICANN Board Policy approval Jun 2008 Development and Publication Oct 2008 – Jan 2012 Application Period Jan – May 2012 First New gTLDs Delegated into Internet Root Zone Evaluation Period 1930 Applications Received

12 Initial Evaluation Timeline  Initial Evaluation results to be released in priority order beginning 23 March 2013  Initial Evaluation results will ramp up to at least 100 results per week by June 2013  All initial evaluation results are scheduled to be published by the end of August May-13 Aug-13 Jan-13 Feb-13 Mar-13 Apr-13 Jun-13 Jul-13 CQs to applicants ~ 100 per week Applicants respond to CQs ~ 100 per week Complete Evaluation & Review Results 30/week  100/week Publish IE Results 30/week  100/week

13 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 and Internet  Open doors to increase choice and competition in the market place 13

14 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; user behavior  Upgrade systems/applications to accept new TLDs 14

15 Potential Impact - Governments & Communities  Increase of online cultural, linguistic, geographic communities  More globally and culturally inclusive internet with IDNs  Geographic names 15

16 Potential Impact - Internet Users  More choice; innovation; competition  Online cultural, linguistic, geographic communities  New ways to find information, products and services 16

17 Safeguards | Evaluation Process  Applicants must demonstrate technical and operational capabilities in application  Must show understanding of technical requirements for operating a registry  Background screening process looks for criminal history and past cybersquatting behavior 17

18 Safeguards | Objection Process  Built-in means to protect certain interests and rights  Clear path for formal objections during evaluation process  ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee can issue advice to ICANN Board on applications 18

19 Grounds for Objection 19 String Confusion Legal Rights Limited Public interest Community Objection Objection period extended to 13 March 2013

20 Rights Protection Mechanisms  Trademark Clearinghouse  Uniform Rapid Suspension  Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure 20

21 Safeguards | Mitigating Malicious Conduct  Applicants reviewed for past criminal history  DNSSEC deployment  Thick Whois  Single point of contact for abuse complaints 21

22 What’s Next?  Objection period extended to 13 March 2013  Initial evaluation period underway  Some applications may be placed in extended evaluation, objection and dispute resolution, or string contention.  Contracting and pre-delegation  Delegation into the root server 22

23 Get Involved with ICANN  Make your voice heard – join the discussion!  Next public meeting: ICANN 46, Beijing, People’s Republic of China 7-11 April

24 More Information…

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