Now that the Applicant Guidebook (or AGB) for the 2026 round of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program has been adopted by the ICANN Board, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what went into achieving this monumental task.
The AGB represents a significant achievement for ICANN's multistakeholder model. ICANN staff, in cooperation with the Implementation Review Team (IRT), turned over 300 outputs from the Subsequent Procedures Policy Development Process Working Group into a 438-page Applicant Guidebook in just over two and a half years. Remarkably, the AGB was approved by the Board two months earlier than originally planned.
The IRT has been immensely important to ensuring that the Applicant Guidebook matches the intention of the policy recommendations set forth in the Final Report on the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures ("SubPro") Policy Development Process.
Collaboration is a key part of multistakeholderism; creating consensus among many different voices and perspectives can present challenges! The fact that we met our ambitious timeline to draft this AGB is a testament to the dedication and resolve of both the IRT members, ICANN staff, and ICANN Board. While the numbers behind the guidebook are impressive, they do not show the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the process in which staff and community worked hand in hand. Though we did not always agree, we always found a way forward.
A diverse team of 125 volunteers and numerous ICANN staff spent more than 250 hours in Zoom calls and in-person sessions during ICANN meetings, going over the details of each SubPro recommendation – what was the intent, how can it be implemented, how can it be enforced, and weighing considerations of how each change would impact various other parties and parts of the process.
Scheduling meetings to accommodate multiple time zones across five regions meant that every participant had to compromise at times to make the meetings work. Staff also had to be very organized to ensure over 200 meeting invites were sent out to all members on time, wiki pages updated, decks prepared, and, of course, draft AGB text shared. Not everything went perfectly – sometimes draft texts were shared only hours before a call or calls had to be rescheduled at the last minute. Yet our amazing community went along for the ride and showed flexibility, collegiality, and a work ethic that was truly astounding.
ICANN Board adoption of the AGB is a prerequisite to opening the gTLD application window. Achieving this during ICANN84 ensures the guidebook can be made available in December – four months before ICANN opens the application window in April 2026. I am grateful to each and every one of the volunteers and staff who helped accomplish this huge milestone.
To peruse the AGB and learn how your organization might benefit from operating a gTLD, please visit the New gTLD Program website.
