Email from ICANN

FYI

Thursday, 03 April 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

Information Sharing

· NEW: Remembering Nigel Hickson

· NEW: Call for Applications: NextGen@ICANN84

· NEW: ICANN Seeks Feedback on FY26-FY30 Middle East Regional Plan

· ICANN83 Community Childcare Grants Program: Apply Now

· ICANN Opens Application Period for New gTLD Applicant Support Program

· ICANN Opens New gTLD Registry Service Provider Evaluation Program

· Next Round Champions Toolkit Available in the Six ICANN Languages

· ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

Webinars

· NEW: ICANN Webinar Series Latin America and the Caribbean - Meet Kurtis Lindqvist: ICANN's President & CEO

· DNS Training Webinars for ISPs

· Webinar - DNS Training Session for ISPs: DNS related threats

🚨 Action Items 🚨

· NEW: Request for Applicant Guidebook related sessions at ICANN83

· Call for ASP Mentors

· Apply Now for ICANN Leadership Positions

Public Comment

· NEW: Summary Report Published: ICANN FY26-30 Operating & Financial Plan, ICANN/IANA FY26 Op Plans & Budgets

· NEW: Summary Report Published: Draft PTI FY26 Operating Plan and Budget

· NEW: FY26-FY30 Middle East Regional Plan

· Second IANA Naming Function Review Team (IFR2) Initial Report

· Proposal for Thaana script Root Zone Label Generation Rules

Events

· These events occur in March and April 2025.

Information Sharing

NEW: Remembering Nigel Hickson

While there will be many opportunities to honor Nigel and his life’s work in the coming weeks and months, today, we keep him in our thoughts and extend our sincere condolences to his family.

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

NEW: Call for Applications: NextGen@ICANN84

ICANN wants to hear from university students living and studying in the Asia Pacific region who are interested in the future of the Internet and participating in the Public Meeting.

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

NEW: ICANN Seeks Feedback on FY26-FY30 Middle East Regional Plan

ICANN invites stakeholders from the Middle East and those interested in ICANN’s work in the region to submit input to help ICANN org define regional activities that would best fit the regional needs and priorities.

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

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

ICANN83 Community Childcare Grants Program: Apply Now

Grants of up to $750 per family are available for ICANN Public Meeting participants who meet the criteria, are bringing children, and will incur expenses associated with babysitting or local childcare services. There will be no on-site meeting or conference-sponsored childcare services during ICANN83.

Deadline: Friday, 21 April 2025, at 23:59 UTC

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

ICANN Opens New gTLD Registry Service Provider Evaluation Program

ICANN has opened the Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program for the New Generic TopLevel Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round. The RSP Evaluation Program was created to streamline the evaluation of gTLD applications by separating the evaluation of the technical aspects of operating the gTLD from the application for the name.

Read more. [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.

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!

Webinars

NEW: ICANN Webinar Series Latin America and the Caribbean - Meet Kurtis Lindqvist: ICANN's President & CEO

Date: Friday 11 April 2025 (20:30 - 21:30 UTC)

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

DNS Training Webinars for ISPs

ICANN's Technical Engagement team from the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, in collaboration with the Internet Service Providers and Connectivity Providers (ISPCP) constituency, is excited to announce a series of training sessions focusing on topics related to the Domain Name System (DNS). These sessions are intended for all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) globally.

Please see the Sessions for ISPs below.

Webinar - DNS Training Session for ISPs: DNS related threats

Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025, 15:00 UTC to 16:30 UTC

Learn more and Register now. [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

Action Items

NEW: Request for Applicant Guidebook related sessions at ICANN83

ICANN’s New gTLD Program team will be available to provide updates on Applicant Guidebook topics to the interested parties during ICANN83. 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 30 April 2025.

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.

Apply Now for ICANN Leadership Positions

The Nominating Committee (NomCom) of ICANN is accepting applications for key leadership positions within ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees, Public Technical Identifiers (PTI), and the ICANN Board of Directors.

The deadline to submit applications is 28 March 2025 at 23:59 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

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