Applicant Guidebook
FAG stands for Final Applicant Guidebook, an ICANN guidebook describing the entire process of applying for new gTLDs.[1] The fifth version and latest version of the Guidebook was released in 2010 in order to get input on the Proposed Final Applicant Guidebook.[2]
ICANN kept a four-month timeline for conducting a communications campaign to ensure that people who wanted to participate in the new gTLD process could get a fair idea when ICANN planned to start accepting applications for new gTLDs. It gave a chance for participants to comment either on a module or on the entire FAG, depending on the area of interest of the participant.[2]
Contents of the latest FAG[edit | edit source]
The latest version of the FAG consists of some new points in each of its Module except the Module 4. Some of these changes are as follows:
Module 1:
- Based on a recent Board decision of ICANN, the restrictions imposed on Registrar cross-ownership were eliminated
- It contains some additional information on delegation rates, application batch and dependencies for root scaling, than the earlier version
- The background screening criteria has been limited to businesses, cybersquatting and criminal background.
- It also includes an added placeholder for outcomes on Applicant Support Working Group. [1]
Module 2:
- It also consists of updates in the string requirements section, which deal with the use of numbers in the TLDs
- It contains a list of the UNESCO as a reference for region/continent names. [1]
Module 3:
- It has incorporated the Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) in the Legal Rights Objection
- It contains many recommendations from the Working group which deals with the morality and public order objection. [1]
Module 4:
As mentioned earlier, there are no significant changes in this module
Module 5:
This includes the role of the ICANN Board in the process of implementing the new gTLD process. [1] The Board has got the right to consider an application for a new gTLD individually under exceptional circumstances that whether the approval would do well to the Internet community.[3]
References[edit | edit source]
ICANNWiki: Content Guide | Documentation | Development Categories: Articles needing attention | Candidates for deletion Projects: Internet & Digital Governance Library