Internet Access Reimbursement Program
Program Status
About
The ICANN Internet Access Reimbursement Program aims to facilitate the active participation in ICANN Public Meetings Meeting for certain community members with limited Internet capacity by offering financial assistance to increase their Internet bandwidth during the meeting.
Reimbursements will be a maximum of USD 60.00 per each participant who meets the program criteria.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Internet service reimbursement:
- Applicants must require additional bandwidth at home to facilitate their active participation in the ICANN Public Meeting. Applicants must have a valid personal bank account for ICANN org to wire the reimbursement funds.
- If you are not a previously funded traveler, you have the opportunity to request a nomination from a community leader. Applicants can be nominated by a community leader from one of the three Supporting Organizations, four Advisory Committees, four Stakeholder Groups and five Constituencies from the Generic Names Supporting Organization, and five Regional At-Large Organizations from the At Large community. Community leaders will have the opportunity to nominate a limited number of recipients by the program deadline.
OR Applicants must be active members of an ICANN community Supporting Organization or Advisory Committee and have been an ICANN funded traveler between ICANN61 to present.
OR Applicants must be selected to participate in the current ICANN Public Meeting Fellowship or the NextGen programs.
- Applicants must be registered to attend and participate for a minimum of 4 sessions. Please track the sessions you have attended and submit a list with your receipts. Participation will be validated by the support staff of the primary membership group of applicants.
- Applicants must apply for this program in advance of the meeting. Please see below for the deadline and application form link.
- In addition to the above qualifications, eligibility for participation is subject to all applicable laws and regulations.
- Applicants that are in-person attendees to ICANN77 are not eligible for this program.
Note: Family members of ICANN org personnel and Board members are not eligible for this program.
Ineligibility Requirements
- Applicants that are in-person attendees to ICANN77 are not eligible for this program.
- Family members of ICANN org personnel and Board members are not eligible for this program.
Allowable Expenses
Allowable expenses are for Internet bandwidth increases (capacity or data limits) for the duration of the month or billing cycle for the month of the ICANN meeting. The services must be rendered by a business entity, Internet Service Provider, specifically for Internet or cellular data service. The provider must also provide digital or paper documentation (proof of purchase) of the upgrade costs.
Participants of the ICANN Internet Access Reimbursement Program will be required to submit service provider-issued receipts in order to be eligible for reimbursement of allowable expenses. Receipts must be submitted no later than 15 days after the ICANN Public Meeting. Submissions after the deadline will not be processed for reimbursement.
Non-Allowable Expenses
Funds may not be applied to:
- Expenses and services outside of bandwidth or data cap increases, including all associated hardware and device purchase or rental costs.
- Expenses related to the recipient's virtual participation in the ICANN Public Meeting that would already be incurred by the recipient attending the meeting.
- Any other expenses not specified under allowable expenses.
How To Apply
To participate in this program, an applicant must meet the program eligibility requirements, and complete the application form below.
Applicants who have not previously been an ICANN funded traveler must be selected to participate in the current Fellow or NextGen programs or nominated by a community leader to be eligible for this program.
Application form opens 17 May 2023
For more information, see the program Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Application Form Opens
17 May 2023
Application Deadline
05 June 2023
Receipt Submission Deadline
27 June 2023
Late submissions for applications and reimbursements after the noted deadlines will not be processed.
Reimbursement Procedures and Financial Obligations
Expense Submission
Program participants must submit legible electronic copies of all original receipts for eligible expenses online via a reimbursement portal, which will be provided to accepted participants. If receipts are not legible or do not clearly state the services being rendered and related costs, additional information may be required from the recipient.
Reimbursement Processing Time
ICANN org will process eligible reimbursements at the conclusion of the ICANN Public Meeting. Approved participants can expect to receive reimbursed funds six weeks after ICANN org receives proper receipts. Some receipts may require additional information and processing time may increase.
Misrepresentation
ICANN reserves the right to deny funds to all participants who misrepresent their funding needs or submitted receipts.
Have a question? Check out answers to some frequently asked questions, or simply contact us at internetreimbursement@icann.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the reimbursement be?
The total reimbursement may not exceed USD 60.00 per eligible participant.
Where can I find the application?
All participants must apply within the application open period and meet the eligibility requirements. Applicants who have not previously been an ICANN funded traveler must be selected to participate in the current Fellowship, the NextGen programs, or nominated by a community leader to be eligible for this program. The application link can be found above.
What is considered an allowable expense?
Allowable expenses are for Internet bandwidth increases (capacity or data limits) for the duration of the month or billing cycling for the current ICANN Public Meeting. The services must be rendered by a business entity Internet Service Provider, specifically for Internet or cellular data service. The provider must also provide digital or paper documentation (proof of purchase) of the upgrade costs.
What is not considered an allowable expense?
Funds may not be used for Internet services outside of bandwidth or data cap increases. Any other expenses related to the recipient's virtual participation in the meeting that would already be incurred by the recipient participating in the meeting, and any other expenses not specified under allowable expenses.
When do I submit my reimbursable receipts?
The reimbursement form and receipts must be submitted within 15 days after the conclusion of the ICANN Public Meeting. The deadline can be found above. Forms submitted after this date will not be processed for reimbursement.
What if the amount of the receipt of an allowable expense is an amount greater than USD 60.00?
Please submit your receipt according to the reimbursement procedures and ICANN org will reimburse you for the maximum amount of the program (USD 60.00).
What if the amount of the receipt of an allowable expense is an amount less than USD 60.00?
Please submit your receipt according to the reimbursement procedures and ICANN org will reimburse you for the amount documented on your receipt.
How do I submit my receipts?
Instructions will be emailed to accepted participants on how to submit via an online reimbursement portal. ICANN org reserves the right to ask for follow up verification of receipts if necessary. If receipts are not legible, or do not clearly state the services being rendered and their related costs, additional information may be required from the recipient.
When will I receive my reimbursement?
ICANN org will start processing reimbursements at the conclusion of the ICANN Public Meeting. Approved participants can expect to receive their reimbursed funds six weeks after receipts are received. Some receipts may require additional information and processing time may increase.
Who can I contact for more information?
For more information, feel free to email us at internet@reimbursement@icann.org.
Terms And Conditions
Application Process
Applying to participate in the ICANN Internet Access Reimbursement Program is required by the deadline. All information requested in the application form should be written in English.
ICANN org reviews all applications to confirm eligibility. All eligible participants will be notified by email with further information on the program. Program results will be published on the ICANN website, approximately four weeks after the reimbursement period closes.
Reimbursement For Internet Bandwidth Expenses
This program is designed to offset Internet expenses for certain active participants of the ICANN Public Meetings, especially for those in situations where the Internet may be limited and will prevent active participation.
The reimbursement for Internet-related expenses may not exceed USD 60.00 per eligible participant. Allowable expenses are for Internet bandwidth increases (capacity or data limits) for the duration of the month of the ICANN Public Meeting. The services must be rendered by a business entity Internet Service Provider, specifically for Internet or cellular data service. The provider must also provide digital or paper documentation (proof of purchase) of the upgrade costs.
Reimbursements will not be processed for Internet services outside of bandwidth or data cap increases. Any other expenses related to the recipient's virtual participation in the meeting that would already be incurred by the recipient participating in the meeting, and any other expenses not specified under allowable expenses.
Reimbursements are distributed after the ICANN Public Meeting. No funds will be distributed prior to the conclusion of the ICANN Public Meeting.
Instructions will be emailed to accepted participants on how to submit via an online reimbursement portal. Reimbursable receipts include original receipts submitted by the Internet Service Provider.
The online reimbursement form and receipts must be submitted within 15 days after the conclusion of the meeting. Anything submitted after this date will not be processed for reimbursement.
To receive reimbursement for Internet services, program participants are required to apply to participate in the program and be registered to virtually attend the ICANN Public Meeting.
ICANN is not responsible and unable to assist or troubleshoot local Internet connectivity issues that program participants may experience.
ICANN reserves the right to deny funds to all participants who misrepresent their funding needs or submitted receipts.
Financial Responsibilities of Recipients
Banking Information
To receive funds from ICANN, all program participants must submit (or have previously submitted) a completed Traveler Vendor Setup Form and W-8BEN Form or W-9 Form. These forms are required by U.S. tax authorities to identify beneficiaries of funds paid by ICANN. Program recipients must provide all requested information to enable bank transfers to their personal bank accounts. Program recipients should contact their banks to obtain this information. Incomplete or inaccurate information will delay reimbursements, and expense claims may be denied. For instructions, see the Complete Required Form page.
NOTE: ICANN only wires reimbursement funds to personal bank accounts, not to business or organizational bank accounts. ICANN will wire the funds in USD currency and will use current currency exchange rates for non-USD reimbursements. Alternative payment options are not available for this program.
Reimbursement Deadline
The online reimbursement form and receipts must be submitted within 15 days after the conclusion of the meeting. The deadline can be found above. Anything submitted after this date will not be processed for reimbursement.
Wire Transfer and Foreign Exchange Fees/Losses
Program recipients acknowledge and accept the risk that as recipients of wire transfers to their international account, they may incur foreign exchange fees/losses. For all international wire transfers, ICANN will automatically add USD 25.00 to the final wire transfer amount to cover any additional fees or foreign exchange loss incurred by receiving wire transfers. ICANN does not reimburse actual wire transfer fees.
National Laws and Legislation
ICANN is a California-based, non-profit public benefit corporation incorporated in the United States and must therefore comply with all laws and regulations of California and the United States. It is the participant's responsibility to comply with all local laws, regulations, and legislations of the country or countries to which he/she resides and/or the location they are receiving reimbursed funds and services within.
Failure To Comply with The Terms & Conditions
If a selected recipient of the ICANN Internet Access Reimbursement Program fails to comply with any one of the above-mentioned terms and conditions, ICANN reserves the right to determine the appropriate course of action including, but not limited to: (i) terminating the selected recipient's participation in the program; (ii) and/or non-reimbursement of Internet bandwidth expenditures.
Privacy Policy
ICANN respects the protection and privacy of personal information. See ICANN's privacy policy here.
Expected Standards of Behavior and Anti-Harassment Policy
Program recipients are expected to follow the ICANN Expected Standards of Behavior and the ICANN Community Anti-Harassment Policy. Any violations may result in ICANN revoking of all financial support.