ICANN Announces Updated New gTLD Program Schedule
Following some delays in the application process, the window to apply for a new generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) finally closed on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. At the time the window closed, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the steward of the naming and numbering system of the Internet, confirmed that it had received “just over 1,900 applications” for new gTLDs. That number is subject to grow after payment for all application fees are reconciled, with a likely final count of over 2,000 applications – significantly more than the 500 to 1,000 applications ICANN had anticipated before the application process began. With the close of the application window, ICANN’s New gTLD Program is now moving with full steam ahead.
Updated New gTLD Program Timeline
On May 29, 2012, ICANN published its latest New gTLD Program timeline with revised “target dates.” Most notably, the “Big Reveal” (when ICANN intends to publish all of the applied-for gTLDs) will take place on June 13, 2012, commencing both the 60-day public comment period and the formal objection period. The three-week window for the batching process was also announced as occurring between June 8 and June 28, 2012. The complete list of target dates announced is as follows:
| TARGET DATE | EVENT |
| May 30, 2012 | Application window closes |
| June 8, 2012 | Digital Archery Batching process begins |
| June 13, 2012 | Announcement of applied-for domain names (“Reveal Day”)
|
| June 24-29, 2012 | ICANN’s 44th Public Meeting; Prague, Czech Republic |
| June 28, 2012 | Digital Archery Batching process ends |
| July 11, 2012 | Digital Archery Batching results announced |
| July 12, 2012 | Initial evaluations begin |
| August 12, 2012 | Application comment period ends |
| October 14-19, 2012 | ICANN’s 45th Public Meeting; Toronto, Canada |
