Email from ICANN

FYI

Thursday, 16 October 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

· ICANN84 Schedule

· Prep Week Schedule

· FAQ's

· ICANN84 Time Change Notice

· Next Round Status Update

· PRSP Pre-ICANN84 Briefing

· NEW: Policy Outlook Report

· NEW: Welcome to Dublin: A Preview of the ICANN84 Annual General Meeting

· New gTLD Program: Next Round Community Briefing Sessions at ICANN84

Information Sharing

· NEW: Updates on ICANN’s New gTLD Applicant Support Program

· NEW: ICANN Organization Update: New Appointments

· NEW: ICANN Seeks Input on String Similarity Evaluation Data

· NEW: ICANN Seeks Feedback on Proposed Dates for Public Meetings from 2029–2033

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 🚨

· DEADLINE EXTENDED: ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization Calls for Volunteers for SPIRT

· CLOSES TOMORROW: ICANN Request for Proposal: NomCom Recruiting Services

· NextGen@ICANN Mentor Program Nominations

· Call for Nominations: 2026 ICANN Leadership Program

· ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

Public Comment

· NEW: ICANN Public Meeting Proposed Dates for 2029–2033

· NEW: String Similarity Evaluation Data for New gTLD Program: Next Round

· Updated GNSO Stakeholder Group and Constituency Charter Amendment Process

· Second Draft of the RIR Governance Document

· Proposed Next Round Base gTLD Registry Agreement - Public Comment 2 of 2

· Draft LAC Regional Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2026–2030

Events

· These events occur in October 2025.

ICANN84

ICANN84 SCHEDULE [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

PREP WEEK SCHEDULE [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

FAQ's [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Next Round Status Update [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

PRSP Pre-ICANN84 Briefing [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Policy Outlook Report [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

NEW: Welcome to Dublin: A Preview of the ICANN84 Annual General Meeting

The ICANN community has taken the lead in organizing the six-day program.

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

New gTLD Program: Next Round Community Briefing Sessions at ICANN84

The New gTLD Program team will provide overviews of the various Applicant Guidebook sections at ICANN84. Although the titles indicate “SubPro IRT Work Session”, the sessions have been repurposed as open community sessions. Please join them and ask any questions you may have!

- SubPro IRT Work Session (1 of 6): Applicant Journey | Community Input, Objections, and Appeals [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

- SubPro IRT Work Session (2 of 6): Application Evaluation [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

- SubPro IRT Work Session (3 of 6): Contention Set Resolution [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

- SubPro IRT Work Session (4 of 6): Application and Applicant Evaluation [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

- String Evaluation in the Next Round: DNS Stability, String Similarity, and IDN Variant Justification [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

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]

Information Sharing

NEW: Updates on ICANN’s New gTLD Applicant Support Program

With clearer audience segmentation, enhanced applicant support, and more transparent reporting, the ASP continues to evolve in ways that reflect both community guidance and applicant needs.

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

NEW: ICANN Organization Update: New Appointments

There have been appointments to ICANN's senior leadership team and organizational updates.

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

NEW: ICANN Seeks Input on String Similarity Evaluation Data

Feedback is requested on the proposed similar code points, as well as their proposed degree of similarity.

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

NEW: ICANN Seeks Feedback on Proposed Dates for Public Meetings from 2029–2033

ICANN attempts to post dates for its triannual Public Meetings at least five years in advance. In selecting dates for meetings from 2029 to 2033, ICANN org strives to avoid scheduling conflicts with global, national, and religious holidays and community events.

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

DEADLINE EXTENDED: ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization Calls for Volunteers for SPIRT

In coordination with the GNSO Council, the SPIRT will collaborate with ICANN org to address all non-minor changes during the program using the Predictability Framework.

Deadline: Friday, 07 November 2025

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

CLOSES TOMORROW: ICANN Request for Proposal: NomCom Recruiting Services

By issuing this RFP, ICANN is soliciting proposals from qualified suppliers for the provision of the services to achieve this.

Deadline: 17 October 2025

Announcement [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

RFP Overview [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

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.

Call for Nominations: 2026 ICANN Leadership Program

From 30 September – 21 November 2024, ICANN will issue a call for nominations for the 2026 Leadership Program, scheduled for 5 – 6 March in Mumbai, India, just before the ICANN85 Public Meeting.

Current and incoming community leaders interested in participating in the program need to be endorsed by their Supporting Organization, Advisory Committee, or stakeholder group chairs. The ICANN organization will reach out to the respective chairs for nominations and a registration link will be sent directly to individuals who are nominated.

The Leadership Program does not provide financial support for travel to Mumbai, but does cover accommodations and offer a stipend for the days a participant is involved in the program.

Questions may be sent to Fernanda Iunes at fernanda.iunes@icann.org.

Announcement [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

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 [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]source suggestions [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] on where to find reliable data. Happy editing!