On February 20, 2025, the seventh session of NetMission Academy 2025, titled “ICANN Policies,” was held, moderated by Nawal Munir Ahmad and Sameer Gahlot. The session gathered participants from the Asia-Pacific region and provided a comprehensive exploration of ICANN’s (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) structure, functions, and policy-making processes. It featured in-depth presentations on ICANN’s multistakeholder governance model, the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) Program, and community engagement strategies. Guest speakers Cheryl Langdon-Orr (Co-Chair, SubPro PDP WG) and Aris Ignacio (Vice-Chair, APRALO) shared their expertise on ICANN’s evolving policy landscape, including the New gTLD Program’s 2026 application round, DNS abuse challenges, and the role of At-Large communities in fostering inclusive, end-user-focused Internet governance.
The session began with an insightful presentation prepared by Barkha and Socheata, providing an overview of ICANN and its policies. Socheata introduced ICANN, explaining that ICANN operates through a bottom-up consensus model, with a wide range of supporting organizations and advisory boards from government business, civil society, and even youth contributing to decision-making and ensuring an interoperable internet. Also, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Numbers (ICANN) is a non-profit public benefit corporation founded in 1998 to ensure a stable and secure global internet. ICANN oversees domain name allocation and regulation and offers Fellowship and NextGen programs for new participants.
Barkha Manral continued the discussion by highlighting how the new gTLD program, launched in 2012, expands the top-level domain namespace, with the next round in April 2026. Policies are refined through a community-led PDP, and once adopted, ICANN manages implementation with community oversight, guided by the Implementation Review Team (IRT).
NetMission Asia organizes study groups on Internet Governance. Members discuss how to engage in ICANN and IG communities. The ICANN policymaking process is more than just meetings, and we hold bi-monthly web conferences or ICANN meeting sessions to discuss ICANN-related issues in the Asia Pacific region through a platform called APAC Space.
Speaker’s sharing
Cheryl Langdon-Orr, the first guest speaker, provided an overview of ICANN’s Policy Development Process (PDP), focusing on the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) and broader community involvement in the expansion of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). She discussed key milestones, including the 2012 gTLD expansion, the 2014 formation of a discussion group, the 2015 issues report, and the 2016 launch of the PDP for the 2026 gTLD round. Cheryl explained how the Subsequent Procedures (SubPro) PDP produced a comprehensive report with over 300 recommendations and ICANN’s $6.8 million investment in an Operational Design Phase to assess implementation needs. She also noted the ICANN Board’s approval of key recommendations in March 2023, leading to the formation of the Implementation Review Team (IRT) in May 2023. The draft applicant guidebook opened for public comment in February 2024, with a final version expected by December 2024.
Cheryl emphasized the gTLD expansion’s goal to foster diversity, innovation, competition, and consumer choice, while the Applicant Support program ensures the inclusivity of various scripts and languages. She also highlighted ICANN’s open and multistakeholder policy development process, encouraging newcomers to navigate the complex terminology by using the ICANN glossary and engaging with the community. Additionally, she addressed DNS abuse issues such as phishing and DDoS attacks, stressing the importance of collaboration with registrars and law enforcement.
Aris Ignacio, the second guest speaker, introduced the At-Large Community (ALAC) and APRALO, explaining their role in representing end-user interests in ICANN’s policymaking. He described ALAC’s advisory function to the ICANN Board and its regional structure across five global regions. Focusing on APRALO, he highlighted its outreach initiatives, multilingual engagement, and membership benefits, including opportunities to influence Internet governance. Aris encouraged participation from individuals of all backgrounds, noting that technical expertise is not required. He also provided an overview of At-Large’s activities, such as advising the ICANN Board, engaging in the Policy Development Process (PDP), and capacity-building efforts. He emphasized APRALO’s work, including organizing policy forums, hosting monthly calls, conducting outreach, and fostering community engagement through newsletters and collaborative events. Aris concluded by promoting the ICANN Fellowship and NextGen programs, urging individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Breakout group discussion
The breakout groups discussed several challenges, including the difficulties faced by non-English speakers navigating domain names due to a lack of IDN keyboard support and the potential misuse of newer gTLDs for false advertising and fraud. Fellows emphasized the need for more inclusive hardware and greater cultural sensitivity to address these issues. While acknowledging ICANN’s limited role in improving Internet connectivity in remote areas, they also highlighted the importance of accessibility through policy translations and local language IDNs.
APRALO’s role in supporting technical work and policy changes was discussed, along with recommendations for collaboration with consumer groups and trademark organizations to raise awareness at the grassroots level. Additionally, the group stressed the importance of IDNs and adaptable keyboards, with local governments taking responsibility for Internet infrastructure. Policy changes should be drafted in native languages, with local experts creating language lookup tables before petitioning new languages. Ultimately, the goal of new gTLDs is to enhance diversity, offer consumers more choices, and foster innovation and competition.