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With the potential for hundreds of applications for New gTLDs in the first round ICANN is looking to have a global roster of qualified reviewers in place.  So far the growing applicant list includes names from well known consultancies including Deloitte, Deloitte & Laga, Ernst & Young, GeoLang LTD, KPMG and Webb Henderson.

Given the reputation of these firms this indicates applications will receive a great deal of scrutiny and need to contain detailed and thoroughly documented support information.   For entities interested in applying for a new gTLD, this underscores the necessity of securing qualified assistance in preparing the application and operational plan.

The announcement with the current list of applicants can be viewed on the ICANN Website.

ICANN and the UPU have reached agreement paving the way for the creation of .post. The gTLD was initially proposed in the 2004 application round. This agreement marks the first sponsorship of a TLD by an inter-governmental organization and will likely serve as the model for similar organizations in the future.

About the UPU

The UPU was created in 1874 and is now a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Click here to read the full announcement

ICANN has published the Affirmation of Commitments by the United States Department of Commerce and ICANN.

The agreement affirms by both ICANN and the US Government the fact that ICANN has become a truly globally directed organization, and The US Government’s endorsement of the rapid introduction of internationalized country code top level domain names (ccTLDs).

As expanding the top-level domain space is contemplated, ICANN committed to ensuring the various issues involved (including competition, consumer protection, security, stability and resiliency, malicious abuse issues, sovereignty concerns, and rights protection) will be adequately addressed prior to implementation.

If and when new gTLDs (whether in ASCII or other language character sets) have been in operation for one year, ICANN will organize a review to examine the extent to which the introduction or expansion of gTLDs has promoted competition, consumer trust and consumer choice, as well as effectiveness of (a) the application and evaluation process, and (b) safeguards put in place to mitigate issues involved in the introduction or expansion.

In a recorded address, ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom stated  “So the Affirmation is our commitment to be global and to report to the global community and then, technologically, we’re opening up other pieces of the internet, too.”

See the entire document here