[kictanet] New gTLD Applicant Support Program

[alice at apc.org]

http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/candidate-support

ICANN seeks to increase global diversity and representation across regions
within the new gTLD Program. The new gTLD Program has the potential to
increase competition and choice in the domain name market, and it is
important to ICANN community members to ensure that efforts are made to
minimize any competitive disadvantage for those in developing economies.
The Applicant Support Program is an initiative developed in addition to
the New gTLD Program and it seeks to serve the global public interest by
ensuring worldwide accessibility to, and competition within, the new gTLD
Program.

The Applicant Support Program assists potential new gTLD applicants
seeking both financial and non-financial support. There are three ways to
participate in this program.

    Access to pro bono services for startup gTLD registries: The Applicant
Support Directory is an online work space providing access to
community pro bono services. The directory was created to connect
potential applicants who wish to establish a new public interest gTLD
registry in their community with organizations who wish to offer
either financial or non-financial assistance. Learn more

    Apply for financial assistance: Qualified applicants may receive
reduced evaluation fees. Refer to the Financial Assistance Handbook
for guidelines and criteria on how to apply for reduced fees. Learn
more

    Important Notice: Financial Assistance is dedicated to truly deserving
new gTLD applicants. Those applications from entities that apply for
financial assistance and do not meet the threshold criteria will be
disqualified from the new gTLD program and may not be eligible for a
refund.

    Donate to the Applicant Support Program. The ICANN Board has set aside
US$2,000,000 as seed funding to assist needy applicants. Other
organizations will be able to donate to this fund. Learn More

For more information about the Applicant Support Program, please see our
FAQs.
Access to pro bono services for startup registries

Operating a gTLD is a technology-based service comprised of many
requirements and expenses, such as acquiring equipment, establishing
operations, hiring and training staff and providing customer service. New
gTLD applicants, including those from developing economies, in need of
technical or financial information or assistance may be able to find pro
bono services, in-kind support or grants from members of the ICANN
community through the Applicant Support Directory.

The Applicant Support Directory is an online work space created to connect
potential applicants who wish to establish a new public interest gTLD
registry in their community with organizations who wish to offer either
financial or non-financial assistance. The directory can be found here.

Enroll now as one of the following:

Applicant seeking pro bono assistance

Provider of pro bono assistance

Examples of the types of support organizations can provide include:

    New gTLD Program application writing and application process
    Logistical assistance
    Technical help
    Legal and filing support
    Registry back-end services
    Infrastructure for providing IPv6 compatibility; IPV6 compatible
hardware/networks
    DNS services
    IDN implementation support
    DNSSEC consulting
    Translations
    Training – in areas like building a sustainability plan, marketing,
and operations.

Organizations offering to provide assistance should be as specific as
possible about their services in order to aid applicants in finding the
appropriate type of help.

Organizations participating in this space are responsible for keeping the
information up-to-date. Requests for updates or removal from the directory
should be sent via e-mail to candidate-support at icann.org. See FAQ for more
details.

Important:

    This page is not intended to market third-party consulting services
nor future new gTLD applicants or extensions. The lists of
participants are composed through a self-electing process and are not
validated nor endorsed by ICANN. ICANN provides no warranties and
takes no responsibility for the quality, legitimacy, or connection
between the parties.
    The Applicant Support Site is provided as a courtesy by ICANN for
informational purposes only. The Applicant Support Directory is a free
community service facilitated by ICANN. ICANN does not control the
content or third party site links in any listing and does not endorse
or support any organization listed. Listing information may not be
current or up to date.
    Please read and be aware of the Terms of Use that apply to any access
or use of the Applicant Support Site.
    ICANN encourages all users to exercise care when dealing with any
listed organization. Please check the FAQ for more details about the
directory. You may report any suspicious listing or behavior to
candidate-support at icann.org.

Apply for financial assistance

The Internet is a global resource, and the diversity, competition and
innovation made possible by the new gTLD Program should provide an
inclusive opportunity for all to participate. This part of the Applicant
Support Program will allow a limited number of qualifying applicants the
opportunity to pay a reduced evaluation fee of US $47,000 instead of the
full evaluation fee of US $185,000.

In order to qualify for the fee reduction, applicants must demonstrate
financial need, provide a public interest benefit, and possess the
necessary management and financial capabilities.

If you are seeking fee reduction and have questions about the financial
assistance available, please contact newgTLD at icann.org.

Reference materials for financial assistance

    New gTLD Financial Assistance Handbook
    New gTLD Financial Assistance Handbook Redline
    Confidential Component for Financial Assistance Application
    Public Component for Financial Assistance Application

The confidential and public components for financial assistance
applications are the same documents available for download in TAS.

Archived material

    Draft Applicant Support Criteria
    Draft Applicant Support Process
    Draft Applicant Support Program Timeline

Important Notice: Financial Assistance is dedicated to truly deserving new
gTLD applicants. Those applications from entities that apply for financial
assistance and do not meet the threshold criteria will be disqualified
from the new gTLD program and may not be eligible for a refund.
Donate to the program

The financial assistance element of the Applicant Support program is made
possible due to a USD$2,000,000 fund set aside by ICANN's Board.

This initial budget is considered seed funding. ICANN will work with the
community to create a process for other parties to contribute to the fund.
Details about the fundraising activities will be made available in 2012.

Check back often as details will be posted soon.

If you would like to donate to the program now or want more information,
please write to candidate-support at icann.org.