Dear All, On 9 March, we launched<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173<https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email<https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...>. Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline. In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI: 1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: * Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. * Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”. Best regards, Elisa
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: 1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates. Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion? Kind regards, Justine On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: 1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO. Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: 1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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Hi Anne, I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b). Kind regards, Justine --------- On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO.
Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: 1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
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That would be best. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Anne,
I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b).
Kind regards, Justine ---------
On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO.
Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 <https://icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-L>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: 1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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Dear Anne and Justine, all, I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process. I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted. The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed. Best, Jared -- Jared Erwin Senior Director, New gTLD Program Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org> From: Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> Reply-To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 To: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> Cc: Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors That would be best. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi Anne, I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b). Kind regards, Justine --------- On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> wrote: Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO. Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates. Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion? Kind regards, Justine On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Dear All, On 9 March, we launched<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...>. Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline. In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI: 1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: * Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. * Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”. Best regards, Elisa _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> wrote:
Dear Anne and Justine, all,
I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process.
I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted.
The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed.
Best,
Jared
--
Jared Erwin
Senior Director, New gTLD Program
Global Domains & Strategy (GDS)
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
jared.erwin@icann.org
*From: *Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Reply-To: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 *To: *Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> *Cc: *Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
That would be best.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Anne,
I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b).
Kind regards, Justine ---------
On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO.
Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by:
1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
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_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Thank you, Anne. Yes, we understand that path would have been an option, but we would still like to expand the pool of potential candidates, if at all possible. As mentioned, the criterion was removed from the Selection Criteria but related skills/experience are listed in other parts of the EOI, and we will of course also consider this factor as we work to select candidates. Thank you Jared From: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 14:46 To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> Cc: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>, "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: [Ext] Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org>> wrote: Dear Anne and Justine, all, I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process. I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted. The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed. Best, Jared -- Jared Erwin Senior Director, New gTLD Program Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org> From: Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Reply-To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 To: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> Cc: Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors That would be best. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi Anne, I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b). Kind regards, Justine --------- On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> wrote: Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO. Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates. Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion? Kind regards, Justine On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Dear All, On 9 March, we launched<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...>. Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline. In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI: 1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: * Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. * Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”. Best regards, Elisa _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Dear IRT members, Please see here the announcement regarding the extended deadline for the Independent Objector EOI: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex.... The new deadline to apply is 1 June 2026. Thank you, Jared From: Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> Reply-To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 15:13 To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> Cc: "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Thank you, Anne. Yes, we understand that path would have been an option, but we would still like to expand the pool of potential candidates, if at all possible. As mentioned, the criterion was removed from the Selection Criteria but related skills/experience are listed in other parts of the EOI, and we will of course also consider this factor as we work to select candidates. Thank you Jared From: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 14:46 To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> Cc: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>, "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: [Ext] Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org>> wrote: Dear Anne and Justine, all, I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process. I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted. The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed. Best, Jared -- Jared Erwin Senior Director, New gTLD Program Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org> From: Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Reply-To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 To: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> Cc: Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors That would be best. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi Anne, I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b). Kind regards, Justine --------- On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> wrote: Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO. Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates. Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion? Kind regards, Justine On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Dear All, On 9 March, we launched<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...>. Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline. In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI: 1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: * Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. * Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”. Best regards, Elisa _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Thanks Jared. Two comments: Regarding compensation, it might be helpful for ICANN to suggest the tier levels for which you want flat fee quotes. Right now it's open-ended and applicants may have no idea how to propose a fee schedule for an unspecified set of tiers. Especially if they are not familiar with the new gTLD program and the underlying assumptions, it will be difficult for them to craft a set of tiers and they may also have no idea how long the applications are that they need to review. The EOI says: For the tasks performed in the 111 days following String Confirmation Day, providers are requested to indicate different flat fees based on the number of new gTLD applications that will be received." In this regard, the responsibilities state that the IOs are to avoid duplication of effort. So actually, it's not clear whether the three IOs selected will ALL review ALL of the applications and the public comment on same OR whether the three IOs will split that responsibility. Something else that is not clear is how the Objection deadlines will impact the work to be done. In other words, it's hard for a prospective IO to understand the workload that might be required because there is no mention of the deadlines for Objections. In addition, as to firms, are we saying that an IO that is selected cannot use other lawyers to assist in filing Objections even if that work is needed in order to meet the deadlines for Objections? Must the IO do all the review, investigation, and drafting for every Objection by himself or herself? I think it would be good for ICANN to develop a set of FAQs based on these questions and others that you may have received. The goal of the FAQs would be to encourage prospective applicants for the IO position to apply. So questions that need to be answered are such as these: 1. How many applications does ICANN anticipate receiving? 2. Will each IO review all applications or will the three IOs divide the work? 3. What is the approximate length of each application? 4. In the 2012 round, how many applications received public comment and on average, how many comments were received? 5. How many IO Objections were filed in the 2012 round? 6.What are the applicable deadlines for filing the Objections which the IO must consider? 7. Is the IO expected to perform all work and deliverables individually regardless of deadlines? What type of assistance is permitted? Paralegal support only? 8. Will the IO have access to expert witnesses in the budget? I think it might be very difficult for an individual to respond to the EOI without more information in the form of FAQs. A minor comment is that in the timeline, the date for ICANN to respond to questions from prospective applicants has not been changed. It still says ICANN will answer all questions from prospective applicants by April 6, 2026? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Thu, May 14, 2026 at 6:56 AM Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear IRT members,
Please see here the announcement regarding the extended deadline for the Independent Objector EOI: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex.... The new deadline to apply is 1 June 2026.
Thank you,
Jared
*From: *Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Reply-To: *Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> *Date: *Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 15:13 *To: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Cc: *"subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
Thank you, Anne. Yes, we understand that path would have been an option, but we would still like to expand the pool of potential candidates, if at all possible. As mentioned, the criterion was removed from the Selection Criteria but related skills/experience are listed in other parts of the EOI, and we will of course also consider this factor as we work to select candidates.
Thank you
Jared
*From: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 14:46 *To: *Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> *Cc: *Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>, "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[Ext] Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> wrote:
Dear Anne and Justine, all,
I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process.
I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted.
The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed.
Best,
Jared
--
Jared Erwin
Senior Director, New gTLD Program
Global Domains & Strategy (GDS)
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
jared.erwin@icann.org
*From: *Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Reply-To: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 *To: *Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> *Cc: *Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
That would be best.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Anne,
I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b).
Kind regards, Justine ---------
On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO.
Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by:
1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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_______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Dear Anne, Thank you for these helpful comments. We will take them back and review. Please note that as part of the EOI/interview process, interested parties will be able to ask questions, and we are also able to provide additional information to them ahead of or during interviews, so that they fully understand the scope of work. A couple of notes: * The deliverables section (2.1) of the EOI does provide estimated timeframes as it relates to the objection windows. * As it relates to the question of sharing work, please note this comment from Elisa on this email chain<https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> from earlier this year: Each IO will review all applications, except those where a stated conflict prevents review by an IO. Conflicts will be reviewed by the Chair and ICANN for mitigation. Finally, thank you for catching that error in the dates. We will look to correcting that. Best Jared From: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 08:28 To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> Cc: "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> Subject: Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Thanks Jared. Two comments: Regarding compensation, it might be helpful for ICANN to suggest the tier levels for which you want flat fee quotes. Right now it's open-ended and applicants may have no idea how to propose a fee schedule for an unspecified set of tiers. Especially if they are not familiar with the new gTLD program and the underlying assumptions, it will be difficult for them to craft a set of tiers and they may also have no idea how long the applications are that they need to review. The EOI says: For the tasks performed in the 111 days following String Confirmation Day, providers are requested to indicate different flat fees based on the number of new gTLD applications that will be received." In this regard, the responsibilities state that the IOs are to avoid duplication of effort. So actually, it's not clear whether the three IOs selected will ALL review ALL of the applications and the public comment on same OR whether the three IOs will split that responsibility. Something else that is not clear is how the Objection deadlines will impact the work to be done. In other words, it's hard for a prospective IO to understand the workload that might be required because there is no mention of the deadlines for Objections. In addition, as to firms, are we saying that an IO that is selected cannot use other lawyers to assist in filing Objections even if that work is needed in order to meet the deadlines for Objections? Must the IO do all the review, investigation, and drafting for every Objection by himself or herself? I think it would be good for ICANN to develop a set of FAQs based on these questions and others that you may have received. The goal of the FAQs would be to encourage prospective applicants for the IO position to apply. So questions that need to be answered are such as these: 1. How many applications does ICANN anticipate receiving? 2. Will each IO review all applications or will the three IOs divide the work? 3. What is the approximate length of each application? 4. In the 2012 round, how many applications received public comment and on average, how many comments were received? 5. How many IO Objections were filed in the 2012 round? 6.What are the applicable deadlines for filing the Objections which the IO must consider? 7. Is the IO expected to perform all work and deliverables individually regardless of deadlines? What type of assistance is permitted? Paralegal support only? 8. Will the IO have access to expert witnesses in the budget? I think it might be very difficult for an individual to respond to the EOI without more information in the form of FAQs. A minor comment is that in the timeline, the date for ICANN to respond to questions from prospective applicants has not been changed. It still says ICANN will answer all questions from prospective applicants by April 6, 2026? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 14, 2026 at 6:56 AM Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Dear IRT members, Please see here the announcement regarding the extended deadline for the Independent Objector EOI: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex.... The new deadline to apply is 1 June 2026. Thank you, Jared From: Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Reply-To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org>> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 15:13 To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> Cc: "subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>" <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Thank you, Anne. Yes, we understand that path would have been an option, but we would still like to expand the pool of potential candidates, if at all possible. As mentioned, the criterion was removed from the Selection Criteria but related skills/experience are listed in other parts of the EOI, and we will of course also consider this factor as we work to select candidates. Thank you Jared From: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 14:46 To: Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org>> Cc: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>>, "subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>" <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Subject: [Ext] Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org>> wrote: Dear Anne and Justine, all, I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process. I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted. The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed. Best, Jared -- Jared Erwin Senior Director, New gTLD Program Global Domains & Strategy (GDS) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) jared.erwin@icann.org<mailto:jared.erwin@icann.org> From: Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Reply-To: Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 To: Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> Cc: Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> Subject: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors That would be best. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Hi Anne, I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b). Kind regards, Justine --------- On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com>> wrote: Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO. Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going. Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com<mailto:justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>> wrote: Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates. Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion? Kind regards, Justine On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com<mailto:anneicanngnso@gmail.com> On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org>> wrote: Dear All, On 9 March, we launched<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest<https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended<https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org]<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...>. Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline. In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI: 1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by: * Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. * Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”. Best regards, Elisa _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on. _______________________________________________ SubPro-IRT mailing list -- subpro-irt@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt@icann.org> To unsubscribe send an email to subpro-irt-leave@icann.org<mailto:subpro-irt-leave@icann.org> _______________________________________________ By submitting your personal data, you consent to the processing of your personal data for purposes of subscribing to this mailing list accordance with the ICANN Privacy Policy (https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy) and the website Terms of Service (https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos). You can visit the Mailman link above to change your membership status or configuration, including unsubscribing, setting digest-style delivery or disabling delivery altogether (e.g., for a vacation), and so on.
Thanks Jared. Coming off our ICANN Seville meeting on the IO procedures, I feel compelled to ask once again about the possibility of issuing FAQs to prospective responders to the EOI request. I know the deadline is extended again. Could you please consider again some of the proposed FAQs below? Anne Anne Aikman-Scalese GNSO Councilor NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026 anneicanngnso@gmail.com On Thu, May 14, 2026 at 9:30 AM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> wrote:
Dear Anne,
Thank you for these helpful comments. We will take them back and review. Please note that as part of the EOI/interview process, interested parties will be able to ask questions, and we are also able to provide additional information to them ahead of or during interviews, so that they fully understand the scope of work.
A couple of notes:
- The deliverables section (2.1) of the EOI does provide estimated timeframes as it relates to the objection windows. - As it relates to the question of sharing work, please note this comment from Elisa on this email chain <https://lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-irt@icann.org/thread/LMJ7U5AW...> from earlier this year:
*Each IO will review all applications, except those where a stated conflict prevents review by an IO. Conflicts will be reviewed by the Chair and ICANN for mitigation.*
Finally, thank you for catching that error in the dates. We will look to correcting that.
Best
Jared
*From: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Thursday, May 14, 2026 at 08:28 *To: *Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> *Cc: *"subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
Thanks Jared. Two comments:
Regarding compensation, it might be helpful for ICANN to suggest the tier levels for which you want flat fee quotes. Right now it's open-ended and applicants may have no idea how to propose a fee schedule for an unspecified set of tiers. Especially if they are not familiar with the new gTLD program and the underlying assumptions, it will be difficult for them to craft a set of tiers and they may also have no idea how long the applications are that they need to review.
The EOI says:
For the tasks performed in the 111 days following String Confirmation Day, providers are requested to indicate different flat fees based on the number of new gTLD applications that will be received."
In this regard, the responsibilities state that the IOs are to avoid duplication of effort. So actually, it's not clear whether the three IOs selected will ALL review ALL of the applications and the public comment on same OR whether the three IOs will split that responsibility.
Something else that is not clear is how the Objection deadlines will impact the work to be done. In other words, it's hard for a prospective IO to understand the workload that might be required because there is no mention of the deadlines for Objections.
In addition, as to firms, are we saying that an IO that is selected cannot use other lawyers to assist in filing Objections even if that work is needed in order to meet the deadlines for Objections? Must the IO do all the review, investigation, and drafting for every Objection by himself or herself?
I think it would be good for ICANN to develop a set of FAQs based on these questions and others that you may have received. The goal of the FAQs would be to encourage prospective applicants for the IO position to apply. So questions that need to be answered are such as these:
1. How many applications does ICANN anticipate receiving?
2. Will each IO review all applications or will the three IOs divide the work?
3. What is the approximate length of each application?
4. In the 2012 round, how many applications received public comment and on average, how many comments were received?
5. How many IO Objections were filed in the 2012 round?
6.What are the applicable deadlines for filing the Objections which the IO must consider?
7. Is the IO expected to perform all work and deliverables individually regardless of deadlines? What type of assistance is permitted? Paralegal support only?
8. Will the IO have access to expert witnesses in the budget?
I think it might be very difficult for an individual to respond to the EOI without more information in the form of FAQs.
A minor comment is that in the timeline, the date for ICANN to respond to questions from prospective applicants has not been changed. It still says ICANN will answer all questions from prospective applicants by April 6, 2026?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 14, 2026 at 6:56 AM Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear IRT members,
Please see here the announcement regarding the extended deadline for the Independent Objector EOI: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex.... The new deadline to apply is 1 June 2026.
Thank you,
Jared
*From: *Jared Erwin via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Reply-To: *Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> *Date: *Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 15:13 *To: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Cc: *"subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[SubPro-IRT] Re: [Ext] Re: Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
Thank you, Anne. Yes, we understand that path would have been an option, but we would still like to expand the pool of potential candidates, if at all possible. As mentioned, the criterion was removed from the Selection Criteria but related skills/experience are listed in other parts of the EOI, and we will of course also consider this factor as we work to select candidates.
Thank you
Jared
*From: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 14:46 *To: *Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> *Cc: *Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com>, "subpro-irt@icann.org" <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[Ext] Re: [SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
Why delete the requirements that were agreed when in fact there was an error in the email address. Why not correct the email address so as not to block submissions and see what happens first with that approach?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Tue, May 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM Jared Erwin <jared.erwin@icann.org> wrote:
Dear Anne and Justine, all,
I’m responding on Elisa’s behalf, who is out of the office.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. We would like to note that under “Preferred Skills and Experience,” we indicate that candidates should “[p]referably [have] familiarity with Internet governance and the DNS ecosystem and ICANN.” However, we believe that removing “[c]onsiderable experience in the Internet Community” as a requirement may encourage other strong candidates to apply. As such, we will remove it from the “Selection Criteria” of the EOI. However, please rest assured that this characteristic will be given the appropriate weight as we carefully consider all factors together during the selection process.
I would also like to inform you of an issue with the email address for the EOI that we were made aware of in the last couple of days. This issue appears to have blocked some senders, meaning that there were more attempts to respond to the EOI than we were previously aware of. We have since corrected this issue and reached out to those impacted.
The updated EOI will be posted shortly and the IRT promptly informed.
Best,
Jared
--
Jared Erwin
Senior Director, New gTLD Program
Global Domains & Strategy (GDS)
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
jared.erwin@icann.org
*From: *Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT <subpro-irt@icann.org> *Reply-To: *Anne ICANN <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> *Date: *Friday, May 8, 2026 at 22:08 *To: *Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> *Cc: *Next Round Policy Implementation via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> *Subject: *[SubPro-IRT] Re: Expression of Interest for Independent Objectors
That would be best.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Fri, May 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Anne,
I think we can come to a fairly simple conclusion then. Which is for Elisa to do 2(a) but not 2(b).
Kind regards, Justine ---------
On Sat, 9 May 2026, 02:57 Anne ICANN, <anneicanngnso@gmail.com> wrote:
Sorry Justine but I don't agree that knowledge and experience of the ICANN gTLD program should simply be a "preferred" characteristic. This is a complex environment. Having no experience in this realm will lead to mistakes on the part of the IO.
Changing the requirement to allow firms to participate is actually all we will really need to get this going.
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 9:11 PM Justine Chew <justine.chew.icann@gmail.com> wrote:
Anne - I fear your suggestion of "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" is also subjective and may further limit the pool of eligible candidates.
Elisa - looking at Section 3 of the Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI), could we perhaps qualify “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community” as a preferred but not decisive selection criterion?
Kind regards, Justine
On Fri, 8 May 2026 at 04:31, Anne ICANN via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Thanks Elisa - not sure we should eliminate the requirement for considerable experience in the Internet Community. Considerable respect can be very subjective but it's hard to see how an IO could do this job effectively without any ICANN experience. Couldn't we specify "considerable familiarity with the ICANN new gTLD Program" or something like that?
Anne
Anne Aikman-Scalese
GNSO Councilor
NomCom Non-Voting 2022-2026
anneicanngnso@gmail.com
On Thu, May 7, 2026 at 11:20 AM Elisa Busetto via SubPro-IRT < subpro-irt@icann.org> wrote:
Dear All,
On 9 March, we launched <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/call-for-expressions-of-inter...> an Expression of Interest <https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/2026-round-independent-objectors...> (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors (IOs) for the 2026 Round. The original deadline of 20 April was subsequently extended <https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/icann-extends-deadline-for-ex...> to 11 May. ICANN has undertaken several outreach efforts to promote the EOI, including a paid social media campaign and targeted communications to key groups. Despite these efforts, uptake has been a challenge. For context, the approach for IOs was discussed with the IRT during Meeting #173 [icann-community.atlassian.net] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/icann-community.atlassian.net/wiki/x/EoD-...>, following which ICANN shared the details of its planned approach in this email [lists.icann.org] <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/lists.icann.org/hyperkitty/list/subpro-ir...> .
Ensuring that the three IOs are identified, contracted, and trained is a prerequisite for String Confirmation Day to happen, which is when the objections filing window will open. As you are probably aware, we currently project String Confirmation Day to be around the end of October, although the exact timing will depend on several factors, including the number of applications received. While ICANN has built additional time into the timeline for procuring IOs, similar to other Requests for Interest and Proposal, we are addressing the uptake challenge in the near term to avoid any impact on the overall Program timeline.
In this context, we will make the following adjustments to the EOI:
1. Further extend the submission deadline to 1 June. 2. Expand the pool of potential candidates by:
1. Allowing firms, in addition to individuals, to serve as IOs. While we recognize the potential conflicts of interest concerns this may raise, we believe these will be mitigated by having three IOs; where one individual or firm is conflicted, another IO could review the relevant applications. 2. Removing the selection criterion requiring “[c]onsiderable experience and respect in the Internet community”.
Best regards,
Elisa
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participants (4)
-
Anne ICANN -
Elisa Busetto -
Jared Erwin -
Justine Chew