[26236]
June 13, 2012
TO: TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE No. 9-12 RE: TOP LEVEL DOMAIN NAME APPLICATIONS REVEALED
Today, as expected, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) released the list of new Top Level Domain Name Applications. The complete list can be found at www.icann.org. In total, 1930 applications were submitted for new domain names and 230 domain names were applied for by at least two entities. Clearly, this could lead to the largest expansion in the history of the Internet’s Domain Name System as well as numerous auctions to resolve ownership of applied for Top Level Domains.
ICANN has indicated that it expects to begin the review process of both strings (strings applied for that is confusingly similar to an existing gTLD) and applicants in July and is expected to conclude the review in either December or January 2013. In addition, a 60 day comment period is in effect as of today for anyone to submit comments on existing applications. Those parties that believe they have grounds to formally object to any applied TLD string have seven months from today to do so.
Please contact me at 202-326-5869 or salmon@ici.org if you have any questions
Peter G. Salmon
Senior Director of Operations & Technology