ANA Asks ICANN to Extend Comment Window on New gTLD Applications

Washington, DC; July 30, 2012 - The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) has written to Akram Atallah, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) asking for the public comment window on applications for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) to be extended. The comment window closes on August 12, 2012. Due to the large number of applications, ANA is asking ICANN for more time to review the numerous policy and technical issues that have come to light since the 1,930 applications were first revealed. 

Bob Liodice, ANA’s President and CEO, stated, “The number of applications ICANN received exceeded even their most optimistic projections. A 60-day comment window may have been sufficient for 500 applications, but with nearly 2,000, we believe more time is needed for the public at large to understand fully what the implications of these new TLDs will be.” 

There is precedent for ICANN to delay the closing of the comment window. ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) recently extended the comment period for its Early Warning period. There is no reason why this same policy cannot be extended to the public comment period on new gTLDs.

“Public comments play an important role in ICANN’s multistakeholder, deliberative process,” Liodice continued.  “Affording interested parties the ability to evaluate these critically important applications is necessary to preserve and protect the efficient operating of the TLD system going forward. Due to the complex nature of many of the applications, 60 days may not be enough time to craft a coherent comment on them.”

The letter can be viewed at http://www.ana.net/getfile/17820.

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About the ANA

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) is the definitive voice of the marketing industry. Since 1910, we have set and advanced the agenda for marketing transformation, connecting over 1,600 member companies to an influential global network, insights and resources that drive growth. Our members represent 20,000 brands and $400 billion in annual marketing investment. Through industry-leading research, the CMO Growth Council, and our proprietary Growth Agenda and Practices, the ANA empowers marketers to shape the future of marketing and create lasting impact for their organizations and the industry.

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