"The ICANN Board in fact voted 13 to one with two abstentions to approve the Applicant Guidebook and implement the new gTLD programme. The plan is bound to increase dramatically the number of Internet domain name endings - called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) - from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net. The impact for brand owners involves an evaluation process of whether to apply and a requirement to re-configure rights protection programmes. The application window will run from the 12 January 2012 launch date for 90 days, closing on 12 April 2012. 15 days later on 27 April 2012 a summary list of applications will be published. The first results from the ICANN evaluators will be published in November 2012. This means that new gTLDs could begin to go live from early 2013, allowing time for Pre-Delegation testing and the insertion of new character strings into the root zone of the global domain name system.    

ICANN reports on its website that a global campaign will soon begin, to tell the world about this dramatic change in Internet names and to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. The Board Resolution, reported on the ICANN homepage, acknowledges that further changes to the Applicant Guidebook will be made before the launch. Among the outstanding issues is the question of “Vertical Integration” between registry operators and registrars. 

Acknowledging that the Board is pushing ahead without the support of the Government Advisory Committee (GAC), ICANN Chair Peter Dengate Thrush said: “Unless innovation can be restrained it should be allowed to roam free….but ICANN cannot survive without full support from the governments of the world. There are aspects of GAC advice that we have elected not to follow. This is in accordance with the By-laws.”

Accordingly an additional diplomatic resolution was passed by the Board, “Expressing the deep appreciation of the ICANN community for the extraordinary work it has invested in crafting the new gTLD programme”. 

GAC Chair Heather Dryden, the Canadian representative, said neutrally, “We will continue the discussion with the Board and the community”. This was in contrast to the euphoric tone of some of the Board Members and many delegates at the ICANN meeting. Steve Crocker, a strongly tipped candidate to be the next Chair of ICANN said, “Is the programme perfect? Of course not. Is it solid? Yes …Strap yourself in. there will be turbulence along the way. It will be quite an exciting ride.” 

Winners in this process, which will lead to the introduction of hundreds, perhaps thousands of new registries include the Red Cross and the International Olympic Committee whose names have been granted special protections and “Developing World Applicants” who will be given a 76% waiver on the application fees of $185,000."