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ICANN SubPro ODP Update: Focusing on the Operational Readiness Work Track

26 May 2022
By

Over the last few months I've shared information about the nine work tracks that are supporting the New Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) Operational Design Phase (ODP), to provide background and detail about how the work is being organized. In today's blog, we'll look at Work Track 3: Operational Readiness. This track focuses on capacity planning, which is critically important because it helps determine the estimated time frames, staff, and budget required to cover operational preparation for future gTLD application rounds.

The task of Work Track 3 is to quantify the resource and operational impacts of implementing the outputs of the Final Report on the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process. The Operational Readiness work track team is incorporating operational experience from the 2012 round, and the process requirements for the more than 300 Final Report "outputs" — the affirmations, policy recommendations, and implementation guidance stemming from the report.

As an example of what this group is considering, each gTLD application received will go through a series of steps that must be supported by ICANN organization staff, systems, and other resources. Applicants will respond to a set of financial, operational, and technical questions as part of the process. ICANN org will manage the evaluation of applications, which may include clarifying questions to applicants, to determine whether each application can progress. Applications that result in successful delegation of a new gTLD will mean that ICANN org has additional contracted registry operators to support.

The Operational Readiness work track includes development of a high-level design of the operational aspects of the next round. This operational blueprint will include a description of the applicant's experience, from prior to the opening of the application window through contracting and delegation (entering the string into the root zone and making it visible on the Internet).

More information is available on the SubPro ODP webpage, which includes a high-level timeline of ongoing activities.

Be sure to register to attend both ICANN74 Prep Week and the ICANN74 Policy Forum for more discussion, news, and updates, as well as a plenary session on the SubPro ODP.

We welcome your feedback and questions. Contact the team at subpro-odp@icann.org.

Authors

Karen Lentz

Karen Lentz

VP Policy Research & Stakeholder Programs