closed Final Proceeding for Proposed Language for the Draft Next Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB)

Outcome

In total, 31 Public Comments were submitted by stakeholders from across the community on the proposed language for the draft Next Round Applicant Guidebook (AGB).

Commenters were requested to consider whether the proposed language was consistent with the Final Report on the new gTLD Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) Policy Development Process (“Final Report”) outputs and some provided suggestions for amendments and/or clarification of the language on certain topics. All the Public Comments received will be carefully considered by ICANN org. Any changes required to the proposed language will be reviewed with the SubPro Implementation Review Team (IRT).

ICANN org ensures that requirements of the next round of new gTLD applications are made clear for applicants by 1) soliciting input from the ICANN community on the proposed language of the AGB and, 2) collaborating with the IRT to make sure it is consistent with SubPro Final Report outputs.

What We Received Input On

This is the fifth and final in a series of Public Comment proceedings that will seek input from the ICANN community on the complete draft language for the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) for the New gTLD Program: Next Round. Specifically, ICANN org is looking for input from the community on items that have not been addressed as part of previous Public Comment proceedings: 

• Fourth Proceeding for Proposed Language for Draft Sections of Next Round AGB (14 February-2 April 2025)
• Third Proceeding for Proposed Language for Draft Sections of Next Round Applicant Guidebook (19 December 2024–7 February 2025)
• Second Proceeding for Proposed Language for Draft Sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook (10 September–21 October 2024)
• Public Comment Proceeding on the Proposed Language for Draft Sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook #1 (12 February–2 April 2024) 

It should be noted that the complete draft AGB language has been developed in collaboration with the Subsequent Procedures Implementation Review Team and has gone through Public Comment previously. Input on this final Public Comment is sought on the complete draft AGB in its entirety and should be focused on: 

• A review for inconsistencies across sections of the complete draft AGB
• Any new issues or oversights that have not been discussed previously

Specifically, ICANN org has published the complete draft of the AGB for input, which includes the modules and appendices noted below. Please note that comments should be made on issues that have not previously been addressed via Public Comment or in discussions with the IRT.

• Module 1: Applicant Journey
• Module 2: Application Submission
• Module 3: Community Input, Objections, and Appeals
• Module 4: String Contention Resolution
• Module 5: Applicant Evaluation Procedures
• Module 6: Application Evaluation Procedures
• Module 7: General Information
• Appendix 1: Application Questions
• Appendix 2: Geographic Names Evaluation Materials
• Appendix 3: Financial and Operational Evaluation Materials
• Appendix 4: Base RA
• Appendix 5: Post-Contracting Materials
• Appendix 6: Predictability Framework
• Appendix 7: Conflict of Interest Process for Service Providers
• Appendix 8: Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Guidelines for Service Providers
• Appendix 9: Privacy Policy
• Appendix 10: Terms and Conditions
• Appendix 11: Applicant Support Program
• Appendix 12: RSP Evaluation Program

Background

On 18 February 2021, the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) approved the Final Report on the new gTLD Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process and transmitted it to the ICANN Board for consideration as required by the ICANN Bylaws. The Final Report presents final recommendations, implementation guidance, and other outputs relating to the next round of new gTLDs. 

In the 16 March 2023 Board Resolution, the ICANN Board directed ICANN org to begin the implementation on a subset of outputs from the Final Report. Subsequently, an Implementation Review Team (IRT) was formed and has been assisting ICANN org with implementation of the outputs since its first meeting on 16 May 2023. The Board has since taken additional action on further subsets of outputs from the Final Report, including on 10 September 2023, 26 October 2023, 8 June 2024, and November 2024.

ICANN org conducted a number of Public Comment proceedings to date, including:

• The first Public Comment proceeding from 1 February - 19 March 2024, which produced a summary report on 2 April 2024. ICANN org also reviewed the comments with the IRT. 
• The second Public Comment proceeding from 10 September - 21 October 2024, which produced a summary report on 6 November 2024. 
• The third Public Comment proceeding from 19 December 2024 - 07 February 2025. The summary report for this proceeding was published on 24 February 2025. 
• The fourth Public Comment proceeding from 14 February - 2 April 2025. The summary report for this proceeding was published on 16 April 2025. 

Supporting Information