Dear IRT, As you may be aware, work has been progressing on Topic 17: Applicant Support in the IRT ASP Sub-Track. Most recently before the holiday break, the group dove into the evaluation criteria for the ASP, and plans on reviewing the ASP Handbook in mid-January. Discussions have been very productive and we look forward to continuing to drive this work forward together. As we get closer to reviewing the ASP Handbook, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of the roles and responsibilities of the IRT ASP Sub-Track vs. the plenary (full) IRT group (see more info on roles & responsibilities here<https://community.icann.org/x/EoBME>). As communicated previously, for efficiency’s sake the Sub-Track is intended to be where substantive discussions are held on the materials and issues. Once language for the ASP Handbook is finalized with the Sub-Track, it will be brought to the plenary group for review as an FYI, but that is not intended to be an opportunity to reopen discussion or revisit issues previously discussed or agreed upon in the Sub-Track. Should you wish to engage in these discussions, the membership for the IRT ASP Sub-Track is open and you’re welcome to sign up at any time by sending an email to nextround_policyimplementation@icann.org<mailto:nextround_policyimplementation@icann.org>. We also encourage plenary IRT members to liaise with their counterparts in the IRT ASP Sub-Track<https://community.icann.org/x/LIBME> to understand the work done to date, and to raise any questions or concerns you or your constituencies may have through the IRT ASP Sub-Track members. As we all are aware there are tight deadlines that have to be met for finalizing the ASP Handbook for Public Comment in order to open the ASP on schedule. We want to make sure that all input from interested parties is heard and addressed in the work being done in the Sub-Track so that we can move forward on schedule. Thanks again to everyone who has participated, and we look forward to continuing discussion on this topic. Should you be interested in learning more about the work done to date on the ASP, please refer to the resources published on the dedicated Wiki page<https://community.icann.org/x/HgCSE> and to the meeting recordings and materials<https://community.icann.org/x/FIBME>. As a reminder, the RST and RSP Sub-Tracks have also been launched. For more information and the recordings of the meetings held so far, please refer to the respective Wiki workspaces: RSP<https://community.icann.org/x/VYBME>, RST<https://community.icann.org/x/nZFME>. Should you be interested in joining the Sub-Tracks, please email nextround_policyimplementation@icann.org<mailto:nextround_policyimplementation@icann.org>. Kind Regards, Samantha Mancia Project Manager, New gTLD Program Team Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Office Telephone: +1 310 301 5800 www.icann.org<http://www.icann.org>