First Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review

The First Competition, Consumer Trust, and Consumer Choice Review was initiated in October 2015, after the launch of the New gTLD Program, pursuant to amendments to the ICANN Bylaws. The CCT Review was one of the new processes designed to ensure the transparency and fairness of the New gTLD Program.

Interrelationship with SUBPRO

The recommendations contained in the review team's Final Report often address issues or programs that are also the subject of the Policy Development Process for New gTLD Subsequent Procedures (SUBPRO). As a result, the ICANN Board passed many of the recommendations to the SUBPRO Working Group for deliberation and action within that policy development process.

Final Report

The review team issued its Final Report and Recommendations on October 10, 2018. The Final Report contained 37 recommendations for the ICANN Board to consider. Twenty-four of the recommendations were either identified as prerequisites to a new round of gTLD applications, or as "high priority" recommendations that "must be implemented with 18 months of the issuance of the Final Report."

Public Comment

The Final Report received a total of nine public comments during the public comment period. Comments largely came from ICANN bodies and stakeholder constituencies: comments were received from the ALAC and the GAC, as well as from the Business Constituency, IP Constituency, gTLD Registries Stakeholders Group, and Noncommercial Stakeholders Group. Comments were also received from the International Trademark Association, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and John Poole.

ICANN Staff found substantial differences of opinion regarding the Final Report and its recommendations.