The Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) just sent me over this resolution concerning the next round of new gTLD’s which it seemed to just pass.

Read through it a few times.

I have no idea what it says and I’m a lawyer

For me it means nothing, just a lot of noise

Last year we predicted the soonest we would see a 2nd round of new gTLD’s open is in four years, 2018.

I think we are good with our prediction

Here is the resolution

Feel free to tell me what the hell it means:

4. Request for a Preliminary Issue Report on New gTLDs Subsequent Rounds

Whereas,

1. In 2005, this Council of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) began a policy development process to consider the introduction of new gTLDs, which resulted in the creation of certain policy recommendations for the launch of a new gTLD application process; and,

2. In September 2007, this Council adopted the policy recommendations from the GNSO policy development process and forwarded them to the ICANN Board of Directors; and,

3. The Final Report stated that “ This policy development process has been designed to produce a systemised and ongoing mechanism for applicants to propose new top-level domains.”

4. In June 2008, the ICANN Board adopted the GNSO’s policy recommendations for the introduction of new gTLDs and directed staff to develop an implementation plan for a new gTLD introduction process; and

5. In June 2011, the ICANN Board approved an Application Guidebook (“AGB”) for new gTLDs and authorized the launch of the New gTLD Program; and,

6. In June 2012, the first round application submission period closed; and,

7. In June 2014, this Council created the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Discussion Group (DG) to discuss experiences gained and lessons learned from the 2012 New gTLD round and identify subjects for future issue reports, that may lead to changes or adjustments for subsequent procedures; and,

8. In August 2014, the DG began deliberations, focusing primarily on the identification of issues that members experienced in the 2012 New gTLD round; and,

9. In November 2014, the ICANN Board provided initial input on areas for possible policy work in Annex A related to a resolution on Planning for Future gTLD Application Rounds.

10. The DG developed a matrix which attempts to associate identified issues with a corresponding principle, policy recommendation or implementation guidance from the 2007 Final Report on New Generic Top-Level Domains, or to note that the issue may warrant new policy work. Furthermore, the DG developed a draft PDP WG charter that identifies subjects, divided into provisional groupings, for further analysis in a potential Issue Report and potential PDP; and,

11. The DG recommends that its set of deliverables serve as the basis for analysis in a single Issue Report.

Now therefore, it is resolved:

1. The GNSO Council requests a single Issue Report that will analyze subjects that may lead to changes or adjustments for subsequent New gTLD Procedures. The Preliminary Issue Report should at a minimum consider:

• The subjects that the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures Discussion Group identified in its deliverables (i.e., issues matrix and draft charter);

• Global Domains Division Staff input to the deliberations of the DG, and;

• The ICANN Board Resolution Annex A regarding Initial Input on Areas for Possible Policy work.