Email from ICANN

FYI

Thursday, 21 August 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 Time Change Notice

· ICANN org Finance and Planning Updates during ICANN84

· Apply Now! ICANN84 Community Childcare Grants

· Now Available: ICANN84 Frequently Asked Questions Page

Information Sharing

· NEW: ICANN Request for Information: Geographic Names Panel and Reserved Names Panel

· NEW: ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization Seeks Feedback on RDRS SC Report

· NEW: ICANN's 2025 Nominating Committee Announces Leadership Selections

· NEW: ICANN Request for Proposal: Community Priority Evaluation

· NEW: ICANN Registration Data Policy Now In Effect for Contracted Parties

· NEW: Strengthening Africa's Internet Future: ICANN's Africa Regional Plan for FY26-30

Next Round

· NEW: ICANN RFI: New gTLD Program Next Round Auctions

· 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

Webinars

· ICANN Webinar Series for Europe: How Time Zones are Coordinated

🚨 Action Items 🚨

· REGISTRATION OPEN: Next Policy Development Accelerator Term

· CLOSES TOMORROW: ICANN85 Fellowship Application Round Now Open

· ICANNWiki Seeking Volunteers

Public Comment

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

· ONE WEEK FROM THURSDAY: Draft North America Engagement Plan 2026-2030

· Functional Model for Root Server System Governance

Events

· These events occur in August and September 2025.

ICANN84

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]

ICANN org Finance and Planning Updates during ICANN84

The ICANN org Finance and Planning Teams seek opportunities to engage with the ICANN communities during ICANN84 or via webinars to present on Finance- and Planning topics.

Presentations will cover topics such as:

- Financial Results: FY25 Year-to-Date

- High Level FY27 Planning Process, Structure, and Assumptions

- ICANN’s Strategic Plan for FY26–30

- Other current topics

Please contact planning@icann.org to request a briefing with your Community group.

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: ICANN Request for Information: Geographic Names Panel and Reserved Names Panel

ICANN organization issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from potential providers on their ability to perform reviews as the Geographic Names Panel (GNP) and Reserved Names Panel (RNP) for the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round, scheduled to open in April 2026.

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

NEW: ICANN Generic Names Supporting Organization Seeks Feedback on RDRS SC Report

The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) seeks input on the Findings Report of the Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) Standing Committee (SC), which includes recommendations related to the RDRS pilot and potential next steps for the Expedited Policy Development Process Phase 2 and the System for Standardized Access/Disclosure to Nonpublic Generic Top-Level Domain Registration Data Recommendations.

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

NEW: ICANN's 2025 Nominating Committee Announces Leadership Selections

ICANN 2025 Nominating Committee is pleased to announce its selections for 10 leadership positions.

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

NEW: ICANN Request for Proposal: Community Priority Evaluation

ICANN organization issued a request for proposal (RFP) to identify a provider to conduct Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) as part of the application process for the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net], scheduled to open in April 2026.

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

NEW: ICANN Registration Data Policy Now In Effect for Contracted Parties

ICANN announced that today marks the effective date of the Registration Data Policy [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] for generic top-level domain registry operators and ICANN-accredited registrars (contracted parties). This milestone concludes a year-long transition period that took place from 21 August 2024 through 20 August 2025, during which contracted parties prepared to implement new requirements for processing domain name registration data.

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

NEW: Strengthening Africa's Internet Future: ICANN's Africa Regional Plan for FY26-30

We're pleased to share the ICANN Africa Regional Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2026–2030 [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net] along with its Implementation Plan for FY2026 [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net], marking a new chapter in ICANN's regional engagement. These documents represent a community-driven roadmap for Africa's continued contribution to Internet governance and the domain name ecosystem.

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

Next Round

NEW: ICANN RFI: New gTLD Program Next Round Auctions

ICANN issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input from potential providers on the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round auctions. This request focuses on which of ICANN's proposed rules and procedures align with a prospective provider's current processes and what aspects might present challenges or require changes.

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

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.

Webinars

ICANN Webinar Series for Europe: How Time Zones are Coordinated

Date: Wednesday 27 August 2025 (12:00 - 12:30 UTC)

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

Action Items

REGISTRATION OPEN: Next Policy Development Accelerator Term

The next term of the Accelerator will focus on the history of New gTLD Applicant Support.

First meeting: 28 August 2025 at 13:00 UTC

This material is best suited to newcomers. Sign up now to learn more about policy development!

Contact devan.reed@icann.org for sign up information.

· A blog post from an Accelerator participant: https://www.icann.org/en/blogs/details/the-icann-policy-development-accelerator-a-participants-perspective-27-05-2025-en [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

· The Accelerator wiki page: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/DBT2Bg [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

· The syllabus for this term: https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/MwAmG [danh45uab.cc.rs6.net]

CLOSES FRIDAY: ICANN85 Fellowship Application Round Now Open

The ICANN Fellowship Program is open to all applicants interested or already engaged in various aspects of ICANN's work, such as policymaking, Domain Name System operations, and the security and stability of the global Internet.

DEADLINE: 22 August 2025 at 23:59 UTC.

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