ICANN Empowers Underserved Communities with Top Level Domain Programme

Emma Okonji

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the nonprofit organisation that coordinates the Domain Name System (DNS), has announced the opening of the Applicant Support Program (ASP) for the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round.

The New gTLD Program: Next Round is an initiative that will enable the introduction of new gTLDs (including those longer than three characters and in non-Latin scripts) into the Internet’s domain name space. It will be the first opportunity since 2012 to secure a gTLD, and the ASP makes it possible for lesser-resourced organizations to benefit from this transformation in their presence online.

Giving details of the initiative, Vice President, ICANN, Africa, Pierre Dandjinou, said: “The New gTLD Program: Next Round will give businesses, communities, and others the opportunity to apply for new top-level domains tailored to their community, culture, language, business, and customers. The program reinforces ICANN’s commitment to encourage innovation, competition, and consumer choice in the domain industry. The ASP supports that commitment by paving the way for more entrepreneurs, small businesses, governments, and communities around the world to apply to operate a generic top-level domain of their own choosing.”

“To be eligible for the program, applicants must meet financial need and financial viability criteria, and fall into at least one of the following entity categories: ASP applicants will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. The first applicants to apply and qualify for support will the first to take advantage of the available resources. The application window will remain open for 12 months. Applicants are encouraged to apply early,” Dandjinou said.