Changes

The conference involved approximately 1,341 total participants.<ref>[http://twitter.com/#!/spinzon/status/106146075219464192 Twitter]</ref>

The conference involved approximately 1,341 total participants.<ref>[http://twitter.com/#!/spinzon/status/106146075219464192 Twitter]</ref>

== Context ==

== Key developments ==

=== Departure of Peter Dengate Thrush ===

=== Departure of Peter Dengate Thrush ===

This meeting marks the departure of [[Peter Dengate Thrush]] from [[ICANN]]. He was influential in establishing what would become the [[ccNSO]] through his work with national and international Internet policy development with New Zealand; he became a board member of that body in December 2004. The ccNSO subsequently appointed him to the [[ICANN Board]] in 2005, then in 2007 he was elected as the Chairman, and has gone on to be re-elected three times.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/biog/thrush.htm Official ICANN Biography for Peter Dengate Thrush]</ref>

This meeting marks the departure of Peter Dengate Thrush from ICANN. He was influential in establishing what would become the [[ccNSO]] through his work with national and international Internet policy development with New Zealand; he became a board member of that body in December 2004. The ccNSO subsequently appointed him to the [[ICANN Board]] in 2005, then in 2007 he was elected as the Chairman, and has gone on to be re-elected three times.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/biog/thrush.htm Official ICANN Biography for Peter Dengate Thrush]</ref>

Following the departure of Peter Dengate Thrush at ICANN Singapore, [[Steve Crocker]] was unanimously appointed to act as Chairman of the Board. [[Bruce Tonkin]] was elected vice-chair.<ref>[http://www.domainnews.com/en/steve-crocker-elected-icann-chair.html DomainNews.com]</ref>

Following the departure of Peter Dengate Thrush at ICANN Singapore, [[Steve Crocker]] was unanimously appointed to act as Chairman of the Board. [[Bruce Tonkin]] was elected vice-chair.<ref>[http://www.domainnews.com/en/steve-crocker-elected-icann-chair.html DomainNews.com]</ref>

At ICANN 41, the ICANN Board approved [[New gTLD Program|a plan to increase the number of gTLDs]]. The new policy states that new gTLDs may be any word, in any language. The decision to proceed with the gTLD program follows many years of discussion, debate, and deliberation with the Internet community, business groups, and governments. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted between January and April 2012.<ref>[http://www.opensrs.com/blog/2011/06/icann-approves-new-gtlds-at-41st-international-meeting-in-singapore/ opensrs.com]</ref>

At ICANN 41, the ICANN Board approved [[New gTLD Program|a plan to increase the number of gTLDs]]. The new policy states that new gTLDs may be any word, in any language. The decision to proceed with the gTLD program follows many years of discussion, debate, and deliberation with the Internet community, business groups, and governments. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted between January and April 2012.<ref>[http://www.opensrs.com/blog/2011/06/icann-approves-new-gtlds-at-41st-international-meeting-in-singapore/ opensrs.com]</ref>

== Key Sessions ==

== Key sessions ==

Several sessions were in progress consecutively in different rooms of the hotel. The prominent ones included:

Several sessions were in progress consecutively in different rooms of the hotel. The prominent ones included: