Applicant Support Program
The Applicant Support Program (ASP) is an ICANN initiative within the New gTLD Program to lower barriers for entities that want to apply for and operate a new Generic Top-Level Domain but lack resources. It combines financial relief with capacity-building and pro bono assistance, and runs as a pre-application process ahead of upcoming application windows. It opened in November 19, 2024 and is expected to close at November 19, 2025.[1]
ASP Providers in 2025[edit | edit source]
ICANNWiki is a collaborator in the ASP initiative, and serves as a repository for providers and their services. Each provider below has a section describing their qualifications and services offered.
- Adebunmi Adeola Akinbo
- Ahmad Aghar
- Alan Woods
- Anaciata Mbula Mulu
- Ashley Roberts
- Balbine Manga
- Beijing Brandma International Networking Technology Ltd.
- Benjamin Louis
- Ching Chiao
- Christa Taylor
- Frédéric Guillemaut
- Internet Naming Co.
- José Ernesto Grimaldo Tijerina
- Kadir Erdoğan
- Katrin Ohlmer
- Lawrence Olawale-Roberts
- Mariana Palma Vidotti
- Mark W. Datysgeld
- Mike Rodenbaugh
- Net-Chinese
- Nominet
- Phil Buckingham
- Philippe Batreau
- Segunfunmi Olajide
- Shayan Rostam
- The DotAsia Organisation
- Thomas Barrett
- Venkatesh Venkatasubramanian
- Vivek Goyal
Background[edit | edit source]
The ASP originated with community policy work by the Joint Applicant Support Working Group, which recommended providing both financial and non-financial assistance to eligible applicants.[2] In the 2012 round, qualified applicants could pay a reduced evaluation fee of US$47,000 instead of US$185,000; applications were reviewed by a Support Applicant Review Panel (SARP), and ICANN earmarked US$2 million as seed funding.[3][4]
Next Round (2024–2026)[edit | edit source]
Support includes:
- An ASP training program
- Access to pro bono (volunteer) service providers
- Resources and information to understand the New gTLD Program and what it means to operate a gTLD
- Access to Applicant Counselors
- A 75–85% reduction in New gTLD Program evaluation fees
- A bid credit applied to supported applicants participating in contention resolution procedures established in the Next Round Applicant Guidebook
- Reduced base Registry Operator fees if the supported applicant proceeds to contracting and delegation[5]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Applicant Support Program (Next Round) — ICANN. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ Final Report of the Joint SO/AC New gTLD Applicant Support Working Group (13 Sep 2011). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ 2012 Applicant Support Program page — ICANN (historical). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ New gTLD Financial Assistance Handbook (11 Jan 2012). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ Applicant Support Program Handbook (9 Aug 2024). Retrieved 2 August 2025.
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