Board instructs CEO to outline plan and steps for opening a second round.
ICANN’s board of directors has passed a resolution reaffirming that it plans to open another round of new top level domain applications as “expeditiously as possible”.
The resolution instructs the CEO to create a work plan that outlines the steps necessary to initiate a second round of applications. This includes addressing Governmental Advisory Committee concerns over trademark protection and root zone scaling.
The current version of the new top level domain applicant guidebook states that the goal is to open a second round within one year of the current application period ending. The current application window closes April 12, 2012.
However, it is improbable that this can occur given commitments ICANN has made to review how the first round goes before proceeding to a second round. Industry observers have suggested that 2015 is a likely date based on the existing plan.
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