Dear ALAC colleagues,

You will no doubt be aware of the disaffection expressed during ICANN84 regarding the lack of treatment for Latin script diacritics in the 2026 Applicant Guidebook (“the Issue”). Here are some background facts on the Issue and next steps proposed to be taken to address the Issue.

Background Facts

The GNSO EPDP on IDNs (Phase 1, which started in May 2023) was tasked with developing policy on the treatment of gTLD variants at the top level; where variants is simply defined as two or more labels being considered by script panels as the same (word) - the best example of this is the traditional version and simplified version of the same Chinese word.

In the case of the Latin Script, the Latin Script Label Generation Panel (managed by ICANN org) determined that a Latin ASCII label (i.e. without diacritics, eg. Quebec) and a Diacritic version of that label (i.e. Québec) were NOT to be considered as variants of each other, based on an ‘analysis’ of the standard method of writing the languages of Western and Central Europe, most of sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, as well as many languages in other parts of the world. This meant that the matter of a Latin ASCII label and a Diacritic version of that label being considered as the same word was out of scope for the EPDP on IDNs (which only dealt with policy for variants).

Knowing that this was the case, as ALAC Chair, I had, as far back as June 2023, written to the then GNSO Chair, Sebastien Ducos, drawing attention to the issue and requesting for action to resolve the issue. This was on the counsel of Justine Chew, who was then the Vice-Chair of the GNSO EPDP on IDNs, and ALAC Liaison to the GNSO.

The GNSO Council subsequently set a path - albeit a long one and with the understanding that the outcome not be a prerequisite for the Next Round - for the Latin Diacritics PDP to be initiated to develop an exception by considering a single issue: In circumstances where a base ASCII gTLD and the Latin script diacritic version of the gTLD are NOT variants of each other, what mechanism is needed in order to allow a single registry operator to simultaneously operate both gTLDs?

The GNSO adopts a detailed process for PDPs which is consistently adhered to for completeness, but at times, the GNSO Council may agree to drop steps which it deems unnecessary (normally only limited to a call for an Issue Report). Where the GNSO is developing policy for an issue, the ICANN Board will only act when the GNSO Council-approved PDP Final Report is submitted for the Board’s consideration. Adoption by the ICANN Board of GNSO policy recommendations is required for ICANN org to implement the same. As it currently stands, the revised timeline for the public comment on the PDP’s initial recommendations is December 2025 - January 2026, with submission of its Final Report to the GNSO Council targeted for August 2026 (as opposed to the original estimate of Nov 2026).

ALAC Leadership also raised this Issue with the GAC during the ICANN84 ALAC-GAC Bilateral and understood that the GAC will include a response in its ICANN84 GAC Communique.

Alan Barrett, ICANN Board member and Board liaison to the Latin Diacritics PDP has, in response to Sergio Salinas Porto and Bill Jouris’ comments during ICANN84 public sessions, lamented the omission of Latin diacritics treatment in the 2026 Applicant Guidebook, but is hopeful that something could be done to rectify this omission.

“Unfortunately, with the timing of this work I think it is probably too late for it to be included but ICANN Org staff will try to see if something is possible. We can't commit to anything, but we can try.”

“I very much agree that it is important but on the other hand we do have to follow our process. We have not received policy or guidance from the GNSO Council on what to do and maybe the GNSO Council would like to make a request to the Board to put in some kind of placeholder. Personally, I would very much welcome that, but it has not happened and for now I think our hands are tied.”

This hope was confirmed during Justine’s and my very brief conversation with Leon Sanchez and Alan Barrett right before the ICANN Board meeting on 30 October 2025.

Accordingly, on 30 October 2025, the ICANN Board adopted the draft 2026 Applicant Guidebook for the Next Round, without any reference to Latin script diacritics. I am informed that immediately after that ICANN Board meeting and based on Alan Barrett’s remarks, Justine had brief words with Sebastien Ducos (currently the GNSO Liaison to the GAC) on a possible GNSO Council request to the ICANN Board for a solution to this issue, even if a temporary one to tie us over until such time that the ICANN Board adopts the Latin Diacritics Final Report well after August 2026. She also alerted incoming GNSO Chair, Susan Payne, to expect a GAC intervention on the same issue.

(see: https://gac.icann.org/contentMigrated/icann84-dublin-communique, item IV.1(c) on page 6)

Proposed Next Steps

That a letter from the ALAC Chair to the GNSO Chair be prepared and sent to inquire after and to support such a GNSO Council request, which could include “some kind of placeholder” in the 2026 Applicant Guidebook, for the ICANN Board’s consideration and adoption. Then follow up on further action, as needed.

Ultimately, the quicker the Final Report of Latin Diacritics PDP reaches the ICANN Board for consideration and adoption, the better it is for all concerned.

Jonathan Zuck

ALAC Chair