Support for Fresh TLDs Still Limited Amongst Domain Industry
Survey finds little support among domain community.
Support for ICANNs “current plan” of introducing fresh top level domain names is still limited — although the ice may be thawing.
In the 5th Annual Reglike Survey, 26% of respondents stated they were in favor of ICANN’s current plan to introduce fresh top level domain names. This is up from 20% last year. An additional 22% are in favor of the plan, but only with regards to IDN top level domains.
Although the survey was open to everyone in the domain industry, the majority of respondents identified themselves as “domain investors”.
ICANN has by now started its “fast-track” process for IDN country code top level domain names, which allow certain countries to get a top level domain name in their native script. Still, generic IDN top level domain names are right now slated to be rolled out with other generic top level domains.
As pressure mounts from all sides trying to mold the fresh top level domain debate, satisfaction with ICANN is waning. Will 2010 be the year applications are finally accepted for fresh TLDs? Don’t bet the house on it.
