ICANN's Role in the New gTLD Program

## What ICANN Is ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of databases related to the namespaces of the internet. Founded in 1998, ICANN oversees the Domain Name System through policy coordination rather than direct technical control. Actual technical coordination of the DNS root zone — maintaining the definitive list of all TLDs and their authoritative nameservers — is performed by IANA, a function that ICANN administers under contract from the US Department of Commerce (and since 2016, under a stewardship transition to the multistakeholder community). ICANN's authority derives from contracts: the Registry Agreement with each TLD registry operator, and the Registrar Accreditation Agreement (RAA) with each domain registrar. Without ICANN's contractual apparatus, the coordinated global DNS would fragment into incompatible systems. ## How the New gTLD Program Was Created The decision to allow new generic TLDs was years in the making. ICANN's bylaws require extensive multistakeholder consultation before major policy changes. The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) — representing registries, registrars, businesses, intellectual property interests, ISPs, and noncommercial users — developed the policy recommendations that formed the foundation for the program. Key policy debates centered on: - How many new TLDs should be allowed (unlimited applications vs. capped number) - Whether new gTLDs would harm trademark holders (intellectual property community opposed the program) - Technical stability of the DNS root under very large numbers of new TLDs - Consumer protection requirements - Rights protection mechanisms (Trademark Clearinghouse, UDRP, URS) After years of deliberation, ICANN's Board approved the New gTLD Program in 2011. The Applicant Guidebook — a detailed operational document specifying application requirements, evaluation criteria, string contention resolution, and launch procedures — was finalized for the 2012 application window. ## The Evaluation and Delegation Process Applications were evaluated through a multi-stage process: **Administrative Completeness Check**: Basic requirements (complete application, fee payment, appropriate responses to all questions). **Initial Evaluation**: Third-party evaluators reviewed technical capability, financial viability, and string policy compliance. Approximately 10% of applications failed Initial Evaluation. **Extended Evaluation**: Applications that raised questions during Initial Evaluation underwent deeper review. **String Contention Resolution**: Multiple applications for the same string were resolved through community priority claims, private auction, or ICANN-administered auction. Auction proceeds above processing costs were held in a fund for community benefit projects. **Objection Proceedings**: Parties could file formal objections on grounds of string similarity to existing TLDs, legal rights (trademark claims), community objections, or limited public interest. Objections were heard by independent panels from dispute resolution organizations. **IANA Delegation**: After successful evaluation and contract signing, IANA added the TLD to the root zone, making it resolvable globally. ## Registry Agreement Structure and Compliance The Registry Agreement (RA) between ICANN and each registry operator is the primary governance instrument for new gTLDs. The current Base Registry Agreement runs approximately 150 pages and covers: - Technical operation requirements (DNS availability SLAs, RDAP standards) - Registrant rights and registrar relations - Pricing transparency (180-day notice for price increases) - WHOIS/RDAP data requirements - Abuse handling obligations - Voluntary registrar compliance - Escrow of registration data - DNSSEC signing requirements - Consensus policy implementation ICANN's Contractual Compliance department monitors adherence. Compliance is generally complaint-driven — ICANN investigates when registrants, registrars, or other stakeholders report violations. Systematic non-compliance can lead to breach notices, cure periods, and ultimately termination. ## The 2026 New gTLD Application Round ICANN is conducting a subsequent application round for new gTLDs, with applications expected in 2026. Key changes from the 2012 round include: - **Digital Archival Access Program**: New mechanism for closed applications to be preserved and potentially reactivated - **Reserved names expansion**: Broader protections for geographic strings and intergovernmental organization names - **Updated financial requirements**: Adjusted for current operating cost realities - **Improved community application criteria**: More specific evidence requirements for community designation claims - **Subsidy program**: Provisions for geographic diversity — supporting applicants from underserved regions who could not afford 2012 application fees Application fees remain substantial — hundreds of thousands of dollars — reflecting the genuine costs of evaluation administration. The 2026 round is expected to generate several hundred to over a thousand applications. See New gTLD Market Statistics 2026 for current program statistics and The Future of New gTLDs for analysis of where the new gTLD ecosystem is heading. Use TLD Finder to explore what extensions are currently available under the program.