There's a lot to talk about as we head into ICANN 52 in Singapore. Nearly 500 new gTLD names have been delegated and the Global Domains Division (GDD) continues to expand its services and systems. We're also gearing up to tackle complex issues like Universal Acceptance of all TLDs; an initiative to help resolve potential user issues and obstacles observed in the use of all new TLDs whether they are based on Latin or non-Latin scripts.
We invite you to attend our sessions and participate in discussions with GDD staff and community members at ICANN 52 (8-12 February 2015). Hot topic sessions range from learning about New gTLD Program updates, reviews and plans for the next round, to the "who, what and why" of the IANA functions. We'll also be hosting sessions on specialized topics such as the Internationalized Domain Names Programnew gTLD Technical Operations and more with some sessions featuring panel discussions and workshops. Participate in these sessions to engage with staff and get your questions answered.
Don't forget to stop by our Global Domains Division booth. Our team will be on-site and ready to assist with customer service support, scheduling appointments with subject matter experts and answering general inquiries.
We look forward to seeing you in Singapore. Safe travels!
GDD Sessions at ICANN 52: Singapore
(Listed in chronological order)
Global Domains Division Update
Date/Time: Monday, 9 February 2015 – 12:15 to 13:30 SGT
The Global Domains Division (GDD) regularly apprises the community on the status of the New gTLD Program and provides a high-level update on related key items/issues.
New gTLD Program: Status, Reviews and Next Round
Date/Time: Monday, 9 February 2015 – 15:30 to 16:30 SGT
The 2012 round of the New gTLD Program is well underway and the next application round is on the horizon. In this session, we will discuss ICANN's plans for moving the current gTLD round forward as expeditiously as possible, and the impact to current applicants. We'll also provide an update on the New gTLD Program Reviews, a series of both independent and internal reviews of the Program. Find out why and learn how you can get involved in the New gTLD Program.
Universal Acceptance
Date/Time: Monday, 9 February 2015 – 17:00 to 18:15 SGT
Many of the services and applications Internet users rely on do not accept new top-level domains, Internationalized Domain Names or Internationalized email addresses. The issue poses a risk to the public perception of ICANN's New gTLD and IDN Programs. This session is intended to solicit community interest in participating in ICANN's Universal Acceptance Initiative, discuss ICANN's outreach plans and gather new ideas for tackling the issue.
IANA Department – Who, What, Why?
Date/Time: Wednesday, 11 February 2015 – 08:15 to 09:30 SGT
Just what are the IANA functions? This is an approachable session aimed at outlining the scope of the role and busting a few of the myths circulating in the community. We'll explain the types of requests the IANA department processes and the procedures used to fulfill them.
IDN Program Update
Date/Time: Wednesday, 11 February 2015 – 09:00 to 10:15 SGT
ICANN's IDN Program team will discuss the overall progress of the program, giving details of the different projects the IDN program is undertaking. This includes the community-based efforts to develop rules to validate and determine variants of top-level domains in different scripts. They will share the stage with community members who are making the decisions about characters in a particular script to develop these "Label Generation Rules" for the Internet's Root Zone. These community representatives will share the challenges associated with the work and report on the progress.
gTLD Technical Operations Lessons
Date/Time: Wednesday, 11 February 2015 – 10:30 to 11:45 SGT
The number of gTLD registries is growing rapidly. ICANN is committed to helping new registry operators perform operations at the highest level possible. In this session we'll discuss common issues that have occurred in the past so we can avoid these in the future. We'll also talk about how to fix an issue if one does occur.
All About AROS: The Automated Registrar Onboarding System
Date/Time: Wednesday, 11 February 2015 – 15:15 to 16:15 SGT
We are getting close to launching the Automated Registrar Onboarding System. This session is intended to bring registry operators and registrars together to learn more about this new platform and how it can be used to enable contracting processes between these two groups.