ICANN publishes report on new gTLD application window

No major changes

First off: the working group's proposed application procedure is broadly similar to the one used in 2012. Where changes have been suggested, they're mainly intended to streamline the process by allowing applicants more leeway. We've identified five highlights:

1. Pre-evaluation of registry service providers (RSPs)

The arrangements for pre-evaluation of RSPs represent an important procedural improvement. Many applicants don't have the technical expertise needed to run a TLD in house. They therefore hire a suitably experienced 'registry service provider' (RSP) to handle the technical side of things. For example, SIDN works as the RSP for .amsterdam and .politie. In 2012, a separate RSP evaluation was needed for each application, placing huge time demands on organisations that acted as RSPs for multiple domains. Under the new procedure, an RSP will be evaluated once at the outset, and can then be linked to any number of applications without any need for re-evaluation. As well as saving time, the arrangement means it'll be possible to apply knowing that the relevant technical requirements are covered.

2. Proposed brand TLDs can be changed along the way

Does the .spa suffix relate to mineral water, saunas or the French equivalent of 'Inc' or 'Plc'? Under the old procedure, if you applied to create a contentious TLD, and someone objected, it wasn't possible to suggest a solution based on the use of an alternative extension for your brand -- .spawater, for example. In the upcoming window, that will be possible, hopefully facilitating dispute resolution.

3. Applications to be processed in order of priority

ICANN is expecting a large number of nTLD applications. In 2012, the applications were processed in batches of five hundred. However, that approach proved to be inefficient. This time around, there will be a 'prioritization draw', with priority given to domains whose names use non-ASCII characters ('internationalised domain names', or IDNs).

4. Continuous, rolling application procedure

One reason why so much time has elapsed since the last nTLD application window is that the process was finite: there was a cut-off point, after which no further applications could be considered, unless and until a new window was arranged. However, the intention is that the Applicant Guidebook defining the new procedure will remain effective indefinitely. When the upcoming window opens, an immediate announcement will be made about the timing of the following window.

5. Not all registrations will need ICANN-accredited registrars

Amending the requirement for domain names to be registered through accredited registrars will mainly benefit brand owners. Previously, a brand owner that wanted to register names under their own brand TLD had to use an accredited registrar. That led to many brand owners getting themselves accredited as registrars, an expensive and pointless bureaucratic process. The working group is therefore recommending that the need for an accredited registrar should be assessed in relation to each individual application.

Time and cost implications

So, what about the duration of the process and the cost of applying to set up a new TLD? Potential applicants will have six months from the announcement of a new window to submit their applications. The associated fees have yet to be fixed, but if an application is successful the domain operator will subsequently have to pay ICANN $25,000 a year, plus $0.25 per domain name. In addition to those fees, the operator will need to cover their own operating costs and/or the charges made by their RSP.

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