New top level domains are coming

It’s taken 15 years or so, but finally there is a clear process for peope to be able to apply for and create new top level domains such as .com.

ICANN has announced:

ICANN’s Board of Directors has approved a plan to usher in one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet’s Domain Name System.   The Board vote was 13 approving, 1 opposed, and 2 abstaining.

During a special meeting, the Board approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings — called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) — from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net. …

ICANN will soon begin a global campaign to tell the world about this dramatic change in Internet names and to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.

It will cost around US$200,000 to apply but it is expected hundreds will, maybe thousands. I’d say a .blog TLD is highly likely, and one may even see a .kiwi emerge.

To some degree ICANN was set up to solve the problem of who decides what new top level domains are created, and what the criteria will be. As I said it has taken 15 years to get to this point, where people can apply under a clear policy and process.

The retiring chair of ICANN is New Zealander Peter Dengate-Thrush. It is not a coincidence that this happened on his watch, as Peter has led ICANN through the hazards of opponents of new TLDs – mainly the intellectual property industry and certain Governments.

If .blog is created, I’ll certainly try to get kiwi.blog. Likewise if there is a .kiwi I might try for blog.kiwi 🙂