ICANN “Hedge” In Singapore Will Kick off Fresh gTLD Communications Plan
I predict fresh TLD marketing will start following ICANN’s Singapore meeting this month.
Just regarding everyone — counting me — is horrible at predicting what ICANN will do and when it will do it regarding fresh top level domain names. The only people who’ve been right are those that stated “it’s not going to happen at this meeting”.
That stated, I’m going to take another crack at it. Here’s what I predict for this month’s ICANN meeting in Singapore:
ICANN will not have resolved all its differences with GAC. That means it won’t approve a final guidebook.
Instead, as it has hinted, it will approve “the fresh gTLD program” and consider the applicant guidebook a work in progress.
This half-ass, middle ground “hedge” will allow ICANN to throw the party Peter Dengate Thrush so desperately wants to have in Singapore for fresh TLDs. But the mood will be somewhat somber. Following all, the party celebrates a finish line that wasn’t crossed.
But the big win here will be that this will give ICANN a rationale to start the communications period for fresh top level domain names. This communications period (really a marketing campaign) is supposed to run for four months prior to fresh top level domain name applications being accepted.
Fresh TLD proponents have asked if it could run concurrently with guidebook negotiations. In the past they’ve been shot down. But since it’s clear the guidebook will not be a “finished product” perhaps until the first application is accepted, ICANN will now decide it’s OK to start the marketing.
In fact, the May 30 draft of the communications plans states that it won’t start until there is “board approval of the fresh gTLD program”. (Elsewhere in the document it states it won’t start until the guidebook is approved, but let’s not split hairs.)
So the board will generally approve the program (whatever that means) in Singapore this month and kick of the marketing.
But like last time, I’m not wagering money on any of this.
