MARINA DEL REY, California, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --

- Outside Firms Sought to Perform Key Roles in Evaluating Applications
for New Generic Top-Level Domains

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) seeks
firms to perform key roles in reviewing applications for new generic
top-level domains and has extended the application period for firms
interested in serving as independent evaluators. The new deadline will be 11
June 2009. Independent evaluators will be retained by ICANN and will play a
key role in determining the future of the Internet's domain naming system.

Background

Generic top-level domains ("gTLD") are the characters to the right of the
"dot" in an Internet address and are a critical part of the Internet's unique
domain naming system. Currently, there are only 21 gTLDs, including such
familiar domains as .COM, .NET, and .ORG. After years of community policy
development that recommended the introduction of new gTLDs, ICANN is
preparing to introduce an application process for those who wish to operate a
new gTLD.

As part of preparing for the formal launch of the new gTLD application
process, ICANN is taking action to ensure there will be a robust, effective
and timely evaluation process in place to review applications. One critical
aspect of this preparation is identifying competent evaluation panels with
the appropriate expertise, resources and geographic diversity to assess
specific aspects of new gTLD applications against criteria which will be
published in the final version of the gTLD Applicant Guidebook.

ICANN anticipates that these panels will be most appropriate for
professional services/consulting firms or organizations with international
and Internet expertise, and be capable of assessing financial, technical,
geographical, linguistic and other elements of these applications. Experience
working with global constituencies will also be valuable for potential
evaluators.

Panel Overviews

ICANN is accepting expressions of interest from individuals or firms in
four distinct areas. These areas and responsibilities include:

- Applicant Evaluation Teams (Technical and Financial Evaluation): 
      Determine whether applicants have demonstrated the relevant
      technical, financial and/or organizational capabilities to operate a
      gTLD registry as defined by the criteria in the Applicant Guidebook.
      For more background and specific information on the financial or
      technical evaluation panel, please visit:
      http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/eoi-app-eval-25feb09-en.pdf
    - Geographic Name Evaluation: Determine if an applied-for gTLD
      falls within the geographic name definition specified in the Applicant
      Guidebook. If it does, evaluators will also verify the application is
      accompanied by required government statement of approval or
      non-objection. For more background and specific information on the
      geographic name evaluation panel, please visit:
      http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/eoi-geonames-25feb09-en.pdf
    - String Similarity Examiners: Assess the uniqueness and
      distinction of new gTLD applications to mitigate the potential for
      confusion or deception among Internet users. For more background and
      specific information on the string similarity examination panel, please
      visit:
      http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/eoi-string-sim-25feb09-en.pdf
    - Comparative Evaluation Panel: Perform evaluations in cases where
      there are two or more applications for the same or similar
      domains/strings to determine which application more closely meets the
      requirements defined in the Applicant Guidebook. For more background and
      specific information on the comparative evaluation panel, please visit:
      http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/eoi-comparative-evaluation-
      25feb09-en.pdf



Specific guidelines for completing a statement of interest for one of the
evaluation panels can be found within each of the individual panel overviews.
In addition to completing these materials and submitting these statements
before 11 JUNE 2009, applicants must also email an expression of interest in
applying for the appropriate panel to its associated email address:

- Financial or Technical Evaluation Panel: app-eval-eoi@icann.org
    - Geographic Names Panel: gnp-eoi@icann.org
    - String Similarity Examiners: string-sim-eoi@icann.org
    - Comparative Evaluation Panel: comp-eval-eoi@icann.org



If you have any questions regarding this process, please email:
eval-eoi@icann.org

New GTLDs and the Internet

After years of discussion and thought, new gTLDs are being expanded. They
will allow for more innovation, choice and change to a global Internet
presently served by only 21 generic top-level domain names.

As a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to coordinating the Internet's
addressing system, ICANN is not expanding gTLDs to add to its revenue. There
will be an evaluation fee but it will recover costs only (expenses so far,
application processing and anticipated legal costs).

An implementation plan is being developed with opportunities for public
comment. There will be processes for objections. There has also been detailed
technical scrutiny to ensure the Internet's stability and security. Many
thousands of people representing organizations as diverse as domain name
registries and registrars, businesses, engineers, scientists, governments,
users, academics, and the legal fraternity have contributed.

Promoting competition and choice is one of the principles upon which
ICANN was founded. In a world with 1.5 billion Internet users (and growing),
diversity, choice and innovation are key. The Internet has supported huge
increases in choice, innovation and the competition of ideas. Expanding new
gTLDs provides further opportunities.

Find out more detail at: 
http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtld-program.htm

Openness. Change. Innovation.

About ICANN: http://www.icann.org/en/about/