Changes

In February 2013, CEO Fadi Chehadé announced that ICANN's office in L.A. would diminish in importance while two new "hubs" would be created to fill the gap and provide new means of outreach to ICANN's international constituents. The hubs are to be located in Singapore and Istanbul, and are to act with far more authority and purpose than a stand-alone office; it is clear that many senior staff from the L.A. office will be asked to move, and the CEO himself said he will be based in Singapore once that office is up and running.<ref>[http://nigel.je/2013/02/icann-la-to-be-broken-up-begging-letters-to-stop/ ICANN LA To be Broken Up Begging Letters to Stop, Nigel.je] Retrieved 25 Feb 2012</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/11967-icann-to-set-up-hubs-in-singapore-and-istanbul ICANN to Set up Hubs in Singapore and Istanbul, DomainIncite.com] Retrieved 25 Feb 2013</ref> The news was announced during Mr. Chehadé's first comprehensive tour of Asia, with trips to South Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore. He noted that ICANN needed to  apologize to Asia, as it had long not been given the attention it deserved within the organization.<ref>[http://www.zdnet.com/sg/icann-ceo-we-owe-asia-a-big-apology-7000011762/ ICANN CEo We Owe Asia a Big Apology, ZDnet.com] Retrieved 25 Feb 2013</ref>

In February 2013, CEO Fadi Chehadé announced that ICANN's office in L.A. would diminish in importance while two new "hubs" would be created to fill the gap and provide new means of outreach to ICANN's international constituents. The hubs are to be located in Singapore and Istanbul, and are to act with far more authority and purpose than a stand-alone office; it is clear that many senior staff from the L.A. office will be asked to move, and the CEO himself said he will be based in Singapore once that office is up and running.<ref>[http://nigel.je/2013/02/icann-la-to-be-broken-up-begging-letters-to-stop/ ICANN LA To be Broken Up Begging Letters to Stop, Nigel.je] Retrieved 25 Feb 2012</ref><ref>[http://domainincite.com/11967-icann-to-set-up-hubs-in-singapore-and-istanbul ICANN to Set up Hubs in Singapore and Istanbul, DomainIncite.com] Retrieved 25 Feb 2013</ref> The news was announced during Mr. Chehadé's first comprehensive tour of Asia, with trips to South Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore. He noted that ICANN needed to  apologize to Asia, as it had long not been given the attention it deserved within the organization.<ref>[http://www.zdnet.com/sg/icann-ceo-we-owe-asia-a-big-apology-7000011762/ ICANN CEo We Owe Asia a Big Apology, ZDnet.com] Retrieved 25 Feb 2013</ref>

During the [[Munich Conference on new gTLds]] that was held in October 2013, Mr. Chehadé made a keynote address that focused on his plan to break the ties that the United States government has with [[ICANN]]. He stressed that the powerful role the government has over the [[DNS]] root zone is not sustainable for the future, but warned that breaking ties could create a governance vacuum that could be cause for concern. He also referenced recent news regarding Internet surveillance by the U.S. government as cause for speeding up the process.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/14888-chehade-talks-up-split-from-us-oversight Chehade talks up Split from US Oversight, Domain Incite] Retrieved 04 Nov 2013</ref><ref>[http://newdomains.org/ NewDomains.org]</ref>

During the [[Munich Conference on new gTLds]] that was held in October 2013, Mr. Chehadé made a keynote address that focused on his plan to break the ties that the United States government has with [[ICANN]]. He stressed that the powerful role the government has over the [[DNS]] root zone is not sustainable for the future, but warned that breaking ties could create a governance vacuum that could be cause for concern. He also referenced recent news regarding Internet surveillance by the U.S. government as cause for speeding up the process.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/14888-chehade-talks-up-split-from-us-oversight Chehade talks up Split from US Oversight, Domain Incite] Retrieved 04 Nov 2013</ref><ref>[http://newdomains.org/ NewDomains.org]</ref> View the video of Mr. Chehadé's address at the conference [http://www.icann.org/en/news/press/kits/video-chehade-new-gtld-munich-28oct13-en.htm here].

==New gTLD Program==

==New gTLD Program==