Email from ICANN

*NOTE* IMPORTANT – ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai, India (7-12 March 2026)

· Call for Applications: NextGen@ICANN85 in APRALO

See details under Information Sharing below!

Thursday, 04 September 2025

ICANN Community Digest

Click here to learn more about the New gTLD Program [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Applicant Support Program [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Registry Service Provider Evaluation Program [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

The ICANN organization Policy Development Support function publishes this twice-weekly digest

to help ICANN community groups track requests and follow updates.

Do you have any ideas for improving the ICANN Community Digest?

Write to us at policyinfo@icann.org!

Table of Contents

ICANN84

· NEW: Request for Applicant Guidebook related sessions at ICANN84

· ICANN84 Time Change Notice

· Apply Now! ICANN84 Community Childcare Grants

· Now Available: ICANN84 Frequently Asked Questions Page

Information Sharing

· NEW: Updated: How ICANN Implemented the Registration Data Policy Into Operational Practice

· Call for Applications: NextGen@ICANN85

Next Round

· ICANN Materials Provide Prospective New gTLD Applicants Clarity on Key Topics

· Next Round Champions Toolkit Available in the Six ICANN Languages

· Call for ASP Mentors

🚨 Action Items 🚨

· ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

Public Comment

· Functional Model for Root Server System Governance

· Registration Data Request Service Standing Cmte. Report for GNSO Council Review

· Second Draft of the RIR Governance Document

Events

· These events occur in September 2025.

ICANN84

NEW: Request for Applicant Guidebook related sessions at ICANN84

ICANN’s New gTLD Program team will be available to provide updates on Applicant Guidebook topics to the interested parties during ICANN84. If you would like the team to join any of your sessions, please send an email to nextround_policyimplementation@icann.org indicating which topics you would like to be briefed on and during which session no later than 24 September 2025.

ICANN84 Time Change Notice

On Sunday, 26 October 2025 the time zone in Dublin, Ireland will change from Irish Standard Time (UTC+1) to Greenwich Mean Time, back one hour (UTC+0).

Read more. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Apply Now! ICANN84 Community Childcare Grants

Grants of up to $750 per family are available for ICANN Public Meeting participants with children 12 years old or younger who meet the criteria and will incur expenses associated with babysitting or childcare services.

DEADLINE: Friday, 12 September 2025, at 23:59 UTC

Read more. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Now Available: ICANN84 Frequently Asked Questions Page

Please find the FAQs for ICANN84 here [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

Information Sharing

NEW: Updated: How ICANN Implemented the Registration Data Policy Into Operational Practice

This blog highlights key operational improvements that were made to implement the Registration Data Policy.

Read more. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Call for Applications: NextGen@ICANN85

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is calling for applications [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] for NextGen@ICANN Program [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] participants to attend the ICANN85 Community Forum in Mumbai, India, from 7–12 March 2026.

Read more. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Next Round

ICANN Materials Provide Prospective New gTLD Applicants Clarity on Key Topics

ICANN org is developing supplemental, complementary materials to aid prospective generic top-level domain (gTLD) applicants in understanding the Next Round application requirements, and how to navigate the application and evaluation processes.

Blog [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

Key Topic Overview Documents. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Next Round Champions Toolkit Available in the Six ICANN Languages

ICANN is working with the community to identify potential Applicant Support Program (ASP) applicants – especially in regions that are currently under-represented in ICANN. If you are interested in helping to raise awareness among your own contacts or communities, please use the materials in the Next Round Champions Toolkit [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

To stay up to date on the New gTLD Program: Next Round and ASP, join the mailing list: nextroundinfo@icann.org. ASP leads, targets, and ideas can be sent to engagement.newgTLDprogram@icann.org.

Call for ASP Mentors

ICANN is seeking volunteer mentors who would like to offer their expertise to supported applicants as part of the ASP in the new gTLD Program: Next Round [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]. ICANN is looking for mentors who can share insights and experience across ICANN Languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, or Spanish) to support diverse gTLD applicants.

Mentors may play a role in: advising applicants on navigating the gTLD application process and DNS industry; identifying resources; providing guidance; sharing experiences as appropriate; and helping supported applicants navigate the ICANN community and Public Meetings. If you or someone in your network might be interested, please refer to the mentor registration announcement [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] for more information.

Questions about the ASP or becoming a supported applicant Mentor can be sent to globalsupport@icann.org.

Action Items

NextGen@ICANN Mentor Program Nominations

The NextGen@ICANN Program is seeking nominations for three (3) positions in the 2026 Mentor Program. These mentors will guide the NextGen participants through the mentorship process during the ICANN85-87 meetings. ICANN will provide travel funding for the appointed mentors to attend these meetings.

Each Supporting Organization (SO) and Advisory Committee (AC) is invited to nominate one individual for a total of three spots. Nominations can include program alumni, and we encourage the selection of active community members who are passionate about mentoring students. SOs and ACs can also choose to renominate previous mentors. Please note that individual self-nominations will not be accepted. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, 7 November 2025 to Fernanda Iunes at fernanda.iunes@icann.org.

If we receive nominations from more than three SOs/ACs, they will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, but ICANN org will prioritize groups that have not had mentors in the past.

ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

ICANNWiki is seeking volunteers to assist with creating and editing articles and content for the site. Do you want to help? Getting started is as simple as requesting an account [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]. Then, make sure to read the short content guide [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] to get a feel for what belongs in the wiki. Also, feel free to take a look at some data source suggestions [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] on where to find reliable data. Happy editing!