For those interested in IDNs, Bulgaria’s Cyrillic .бг has passed string evaluation via the Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP). The string was initially rejected due to visual similarity. Fahd Batayneh ICANN Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 1:39 AM Subject: ICANN News Alert -- Report of Second String Similarity Review for бг IDN ccTLD Application Through Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP) Released <http://www.icann.org/> ICANN News Alert https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-2-2014-10-14-en _____ Report of Second String Similarity Review for бг IDN ccTLD Application Through Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP) Released 14 October 2014 As required under Final Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process <https://www.icann.org/en/resources/idn/fast-track/idn-cctld-implementation-p...> [PDF, 879 KB], ICANN releases the report <https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/epsrp-reports-2014-10-14-en> for the second string similarity review of the IDN ccTLD application for бг (A-Label: xn--90ae, Unicode Code Points: U+0431 U+0433) in Cyrillic by the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications of Bulgaria. The report presents the finding of the independent Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP) of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process. About the Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) Fast Track Process The IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process was launched on 16 November 2009. As of that date, eligible countries and territories were able to request their respective IDN ccTLD(s) through the process. Following extensive public consultations, the ccNSO Council adopted <http://ccnso.icann.org/node/38787> in April 2013 [PDF, 118 KB] the Final Report on the IDN ccNSO PDP <http://ccnso.icann.org/workinggroups/idn-ccpdp-final-29mar13-en.pdf> [PDF, 376 KB]. This work has taken into account the experiences and reviews of the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process as well as the Governmental Advisory Committee's advice <https://gacweb.icann.org/display/gacweb/Meeting+44%3A+Prague%2C+Czech+Republ...> on the matter. On 27 June 2013, the ICANN Board approved an amendment <https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2013-06-27-en#2.a> to the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process Final Implementation Plan. The amendment implements a two-panel process for string similarity review in the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process, and was proposed following the conclusion <http://ccnso.icann.org/announcements/announcement-14aug13-en.htm> of the IDN Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Policy Development Process (PDP). The ICANN Board also resolved <https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2013-06-27-en#2.a> on 27 June 2013 that all pending and future IDN ccTLD Fast Track applicants have the option to request evaluation by the Extended Process Similarity Review Panel (EPSRP). On 5 November 2014, ICANN published an updated Final Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process <https://www.icann.org/en/resources/idn/fast-track/idn-cctld-implementation-p...> [PDF, 879 KB] that includes the changes required for the implementation of the two-panel string similarity review process, as approved by the ICANN Board, including EPSRP for the second review based on the Guidelines for the Extended Process Similarity Review Panel <https://www.icann.org/en/resources/idn/fast-track/epsrp-guidelines-04dec13-e...> [PDF, 86 KB]. In accordance with Section 4.3 of the latest version of the Final Implementation Plan for the IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process and the Guidelines mentioned, ICANN is required to publish the findings of the EPSRP within one (1) week after receiving them.