ICANN: Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice Review Team Draft Report of Recommendations for New gTLDs

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is seeking public comment on the draft report produced by the Competition, Consumer Trust and Consumer Choice Review Team (CCTRT). 

The CCTRT was convened in 2016 with the aim to examine the extent to which the expansion of the generic top-level domains (gTLDs) has promoted competition, consumer trust, and consumer choice, and the effectiveness of the New gTLD Program’s application and evaluation process and safeguards put in place to mitigate issues arising from the introduction of new gTLDs. The team began its analysis of the New gTLD Program’s impact on the domain name marketplace in 2016, and is now publishing its draft report for public comment to solicit the community’s input on its assessment of the New gTLD Program’s implementation.

The report covers the following areas: new gTLD Program history, competition in the DNS marketplace, consumer choice, consumer trust, DNS abuse, safeguards, public interest commitments, right protection mechanisms, and application and evaluation. The overall conclusion of the review is that ‘the New gTLD Program has led to dramatic increase in consumer choice, a modest increase in competition and minimal impact on consumer trust’, and that ‘there is substantial need for mor and better data on both competition and pricing and on the impact of safeguards on consumer protection’. The draft report describes 50 recommendations, including several that are considered by the Review Team to be prerequisites to the opening of the next application period for new gTLDs. 

Following the review of public comments received on this report, ICANN will prepare a public comment summary report. The CCTRT will consider these comments to shape its recommendations for inclusion in its final report.

To contribute to this consultation, visit the dedicated webpage.

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