Dear Ozan and all,

I would like to volunteer to be among the reviewers and pen holders.

Thank you

Hadia

From: Ozan Sahin via CPWG <cpwg@icann.org>
Sent: 28 November 2025 18:30
To: cpwg@icann.org
Subject: [External] [CPWG] Call for Volunteers - String Similarity Evaluation Guidelines for New gTLD Program: 2026 Round

Dear CPWG Members,

On behalf of the CPWG co-chairs, we are seeking At-Large Community volunteers to consider the String Similarity Evaluation Guidelines for New gTLD Program: 2026 Round posted for public comment by ICANN org.

Your insights and/or expertise on the subject matter for public comment would be helpful for:

Firstly, reviewing and identifying any need for the ALAC to submit a comment, and secondly, where such need arises, presenting issues - in the form of bullet points - for discussion at one or more Working Group calls.
If the Working Group subsequently reaches consensus on the need for an ALAC comment, volunteering as a penholder to craft a concise thoughtful response (i.e. an ALAC statement) to this public comment proceeding.

As this public comment proceeding will close on 22 January 2026, the proposed schedule for the above-mentioned tasks is as follows:

Reviewer(s): Establish if an ALAC comment is needed.
Reviewer(s): Initial Bullet Point(s) presentation and rationale for discussion in order to establish working group consensus

And if needed,

Penholder(s): First Draft Statement shared with the CPWG on 17 December 2025
Community: Comment on Draft Statement – 18 December 2025 – 5 January 2026
Penholder(s): Final Draft Statement presentation – CPWG call on 7 January 2026
ALAC: Vote on Final Statement – 12 January 2026 – 15 January 2026
Staff: Submission of ALAC Statement – 16 January 2026

If you are interested in volunteering to be a reviewer and/or penholder, please reach out to the CPWG co-chairs Avri Doria (avri@doria.org) and Olivier Crepin-Leblond (ocl@gih.com), copying At-Large Staff (staff@atlarge.icann.org), by Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 16:00 UTC.

Your participation is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to your contributions!

Thank you.

Kind regards,

At-Large Staff

ICANN Policy Staff in support of the At-Large Community