Community TLD

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A Community TLD is a regulated type of generic top level domain name (gTLD) made possible through ICANN's New gTLD Program; it is intended for cohesive, community groups that are interested in operating their own TLD registry. Community gTLDs must represent and receive strong, written support from a clearly defined group of people such as cultural, religious, social groups or industry sectors. The existence of the group must be unquestionable. An example of a community TLD used by ICANN, is the .SUGAR TLD. This example was used by ICANN staff to brief them on a proposed registry change request.

Community groups are given precedence for TLDs in contention; that is, if there are multiple applicants for a given string, and one of the applicants applies and proves community status, the community group is automatically given precedence to the TLD. Community status is proven through a process known as Community Priority Evaluation.

Requirements for Community gTLD Applicants

Based on the gTLD Applicant Guidebook's process for Community Priority Evaluation applicants for community based gTLDs must demonstrate the following, scoring at least 14 of 16 possible points:

• Community Establishment (4 points)
  • Delineation: Demonstrate an ongoing relationship with a clearly delineated community (up to 2 points)
    • 2 points if there is a clearly delineated, organized, and pre-existing community
    • 1 point if there is a clearly delineated and pre-existing community, but not fulfilling the requirements for a score of 2.
  • Extension (up to 2 points)
    • 2 points if community of considerable size and longevity (2 points)
    • 1 point if Community of either considerable size or longevity, but not fulfilling the requirements for a score of 2

• Nexus between proposed string and community. Does the applied for a gTLD string strongly and specifically relate to the community named in the application? (4 points)
  • Nexus (up to 3 points)
    • 3 points if the String matches the name of the community or is a well-known short form or abbreviation of the community
    • 2 points if the string identifies the community, but does not qualify for a score of 3
  • Uniqueness (1 point)
    • 1 point if the string has no other significant meaning beyond identifying the community described in the application

• Registration Policies (4 points)
  • 1 point Eligibility; restricted to community members
  • 1 point Name Selection; policies include name restriction rules corresponding the the community's mission and purpose
  • 1 point Content and USe; policies include content and use rules corresponding to the community's mission and purpose
  • 1 point Enforcement; policies include specific enforcement measures

• Community Endorsement (4 points)
  • Support
    • 2 points if the applicant has multiple strong letters of support from recognized community institutions
    • 1 point if the applicant has one documented community entity supporting its application
  • Opposition
    • 2 points if there is no opposition of relevance
    • 1 point if there is opposition from only one relevant group of non-negligible size

Applied for Community TLDs

The following TLD applications have all been filed as community applications, note that some applicants have filed two applications for the same string, one as community and one as generic. This is done defensively so that in the case that community status is denied the applicant still has a chance at obtaining the TLD. Community applications represent 4% of the total applied for strings.

1. .halal
2. .islam
3. .shia
4. .pars
5. .thai
6. .spa
7. .bbb
8. .广东
9. .pyc
10. .kids
11. .cpa
12. .madrid
13. .scot
14. .mma
15. .tennis
16. .gay
17. .tirol
18. .merck (2 community applicants)
19. .art
20. .tatar
21. .quebec
22. .gea
23. .swiss
24. .med - (2 community applicants)
25. .католик
26. كاثوليك.
27. .天主教
28. .catholic
29. .edeka
30. .eus
31. .gal
32. .gmbh
33. .ismaili
34. .lamborghini
35. .leclerc
36. .hamburg
37. .music
38. .lds
39. .art
40. .stada
41. .paris
42. .radio
43. .audi
44. .ovh
45. .gree
46. .pharmacy
47. .bank
48. .insurance
49. .webs
50. .hotel
51. .adac
52. .wien
53. .aco
54. .taxi
55. .sport
56. .bugatti
57. .ikano
58. .immo
59. .ski
60. .archi
61. .bzh
62. .ieee
63. .corsica
64. .政务
65. .eco
66. ngo
67. .ong
68. .berlin
69. .osaka
70. .versicherung
71. .shop
72. .llc
73. .inc
74. .corp
75. .llp

Potential Benefits of Operating a Community gTLD

Some proposed benefits of a community TLD include:

• It will help strengthen the cultural and social identity of the group and provide an avenue for growth and increased support among its members.
• It enables the community to control their domain name space by creating their own rules and policies for registration to be able to protect and implement their community's standards and values
• It will boost the trust and confidence of its members
• The community may be recognized globally
• Members will be able to register a relevant, shorter and easy to remember domain name
• It will generate income from registration and annual renewal fees of domain names