Email from ICANN

FYI

From: ICANN Community Digest <digest@icann.ccsend.com>
Reply-To: "policyinfo@icann.org" <policyinfo@icann.org>
Date: Monday, November 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
To: Julie Bisland <julie.bisland@icann.org>
Subject: [Ext] NEW: Alfredo Calderón Honored with Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building

Monday, 03 November 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: Alfredo Calderón Honored with Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building

Information Sharing

· NEW: Approved Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board | 30 October 2025

· NEW: Approved Resolutions | Organizational Meeting of the ICANN Board | 30 October 2025

· NEW: ICANN Board Adopts Next Round Applicant Guidebook; Clears Path to 2026 Launch

· NEW: ICANN Announces ICANN86, ICANN87, and ICANN89 Locations

· NEW: ICANN Board Seeks Input on RDRS Policy Alignment Analysis

· NEW: Technical Issue in RST Testing Environment

· NEW: ICANN and ALETI Sign MoU to Promote Universal Acceptance in the LAC Region

· NEW: Collaboration Key to Delivering ICANN’s New gTLD Applicant Guidebook

· NEW: Shaping the Internet in the Middle East: Five-Year Highlights

· NEW: The Internet Runs on Free and Open Source Software—And So Does the DNS

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 🚨

· Call for Expressions of Interest for the ICANN Director Nominated by At-Large

· THIS WEEK: ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization Calls for Volunteers for SPIRT

· NextGen@ICANN Mentor Program Nominations

· Call for Nominations: 2026 ICANN Leadership Program

· ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

Public Comment

· NEW: Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) Policy Alignment Analysis

· CLOSES WEDNESDAY: Updated GNSO Stakeholder Group and Constituency Charter Amendment Process

· CLOSES FRIDAY: 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

· ICANN Public Meeting Proposed Dates for 2029–2033

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

· Timeline for Urgent Requests for Lawful Disclosure of Nonpublic Registration Data

· Name Collision IPv6 Research Study

Events

· These events occur in November 2025.

ICANN84

NEW: Alfredo Calderón Honored with Dr. Tarek Kamel Award for Capacity Building

The ICANN Board recognizes Calderón's significant efforts in capacity building on a local, regional, and global scale.

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

Information Sharing

NEW: Approved Resolutions | Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board | 30 October 2025

Please find the Approved Resolutions from the 30 October 2025 Regular Meeting of the ICANN Board here [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

NEW: Approved Resolutions | Organizational Meeting of the ICANN Board | 30 October 2025

Please find the Approved Resolutions from the 30 October 2025 Organizational Meeting of the ICANN Board here [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

NEW: ICANN Board Adopts Next Round Applicant Guidebook; Clears Path to 2026 Launch

The AGB is the culmination of more than 250 hours of Implementation Review Team meetings and detailed discussions around policy and implementation.

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

NEW: ICANN Announces ICANN86, ICANN87, and ICANN89 Locations

Find out where ICANN87, ICANN87, and ICANN89 will be hosted here [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

NEW: ICANN Board Seeks Input on RDRS Policy Alignment Analysis

This feedback will help inform discussions between the ICANN Board and the Generic Names Supporting Organization as they evaluate the work of the Privacy and Proxy Services Accreditation Issues Implementation Review Team (IRT) and the Registration Data Policy IRT.

Announcement [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

Public Comment [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net].

NEW: Technical Issue in RST Testing Environment

ICANN resolved the root cause of the technical issue and is conducting rigorous system testing to ensure that both the OT&E and production environments function properly.

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

NEW: ICANN and ALETI Sign MoU to Promote Universal Acceptance in the LAC Region

The MoU marks an important step toward strengthening ICANN's engagement with the region's private sector and software industry, supporting the organization's strategic objective to foster a more inclusive and multilingual Internet.

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

NEW: Collaboration Key to Delivering ICANN’s New gTLD Applicant Guidebook

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.

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

NEW: Shaping the Internet in the Middle East: Five-Year Highlights

From technical capacity development activities to engagements with the domain industry, governments, and academia, the plan strengthened the region's Internet ecosystem while expanding global participation.

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

NEW: The Internet Runs on Free and Open Source Software—And So Does the DNS

SAC132 is a foundational guide designed to empower policymakers to strategically manage and sustain the FOSS ecosystem.

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

Call for Expressions of Interest for the ICANN Director Nominated by At-Large

On behalf of the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) Board Candidate Evaluation Committee (BCEC), the At-Large Community is seeking Expressions of Interest (EoIs) from individuals who wish to serve as an ICANN Board Director. The nominated candidate will serve a three-year term starting at the end of ICANN87, which is currently scheduled for 17–22 October 2026.

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

THIS WEEK: 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]

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!