The ICANN Board New gTLD Program Committee (NGPC) met on 11 June 2013 to discuss the GAC Beijing advice regarding singular and plural versions of the same string as a New gTLD.

The discussion followed the NGPC’s decision on 4 June 2013 to accept the GAC’s advice to consider this issue. The NGPC made considerable progress toward reaching consensus on a way forward and expects to reach a conclusion at its 25 June 2013 meeting.

The NGPC also considered how it might respond to the ALAC Statement on IDN Variants. Finally, it began in-depth discussion of the GAC’s Safeguard Advice applicable to all strings.

The next two meetings of the NGPC on 18 and 25 June 2013 will focus on items within the GAC’s Annex 1 Safeguard advice. Below please find an updated NGPC work plan:

1. Publish GAC Communiqué to solicit input on how the New gTLD Board Committee should address GAC advice regarding safeguards applicable to broad categories of New gTLD strings Staff 23 April Complete

2. Public comment period on how NGPC should address GAC Advice re: Safeguards Public 23 April Comment 14 May; Reply 4 June Complete

3. Summarize and analyze public comments on GAC Advice re: Safeguards Staff 5 June 12 June Complete

4. Meeting to review and consider staff proposals for addressing overarching Safeguard advice (Annex 1, 1-6) and Restricted & Exclusive Registry policies (Category 2) NGPC 18 June Not Started

5. Meeting to review and consider staff proposals on Category 1, Items 1-5, and Singular vs. Plural NGPC 25 June Not Started

The New gTLD evaluation and objection processes remains on track while the NGPC continues its deliberations. The NGPC is prioritizing its work in order to allow the greatest number of applications to move forward as soon as possible. We will continue to provide updates on the NGPC’s progress in responding to the GAC Beijing Advice.

This announcement was sourced from :

http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14jun13-en.htm

One of the applications for a generic Top Level Domain that has passed its Initial Evaluation was .nyc, the gTLD applied for by New York City, for NYC residents and businesses.

The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, was trumpeting the benefits the new TLD will bring when it comes online, probably sometime in 2013.

“Having our own unique, top-level domain – .nyc – puts New York City at the forefront of the digital landscape and creates new opportunities for our small businesses,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “They’ll now be able to identify themselves as connected to New York City, one of the world’s strongest and most prestigious brands.”

“With a new top-level domain name, New York won’t just be the greatest city in the world — we’ll also be the greatest city on the internet,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “The Council first recognised the great potential in establishing the .nyc domain name and I am thrilled to announce that our collaboration with the Bloomberg administration has achieved real results for New Yorkers. The addition of a .nyc suffix will give small businesses and residents the chance to secure their own city-themed, personal domain name and generate millions of dollars in revenue for the City. I want to thank the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, New York City Chief Digital Officer Rachel Haot and former and present chairs of the Council’s Committee on Technology, Council Members Gale Brewer and Fernando Cabrera, for their leadership on this issue.”

“Pursuing the .nyc top-level domain has been a goal of Mayor Bloomberg’s Digital Roadmap from the start, and this caliber of innovation keeps New York City on track to becoming the world’s leading digital city,” said Rachel Haot, Chief Digital Officer. “Our digital strategy is focused on improving the lives of New Yorkers through investments in technology infrastructure, education, data, engagement and industry. The introduction of .nyc will spur unprecedented local civic and economic activity.”

In order to register for a .nyc domain, registrants will have to have a primary place of residence in the City of New York with a physical address or a “bona fide presence” in the City of New York, meaning regularly performing lawful activities within the city and maintaining an office or other facility in the city. Small businesses would also be able to use a .nyc domain to allow customers to know where they are located in order to better build their online identity. Registration for .nyc addresses will open in late 2013 and fees are to be determined. Additional information is available at www.mydotnyc.com.

“The new .nyc domain will help promote small businesses throughout the five boroughs in ways that wouldn’t have been possible before,” said Commissioner Oliver. “By branding themselves as .nyc, local businesses will send a strong message to their customers that they are part of the community as well as part of a growing economy.”

“The introduction of .nyc once again demonstrates New York City’s leadership in advancing digital engagement for its residents, organisations, and businesses,” said Chief Information and Innovation Officer Merchant. “And the Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications is pleased to play a role in helping New Yorkers own a virtual piece of the world’s greatest city.”

“Small businesses benefit from a strong online presence, and the .nyc domain will give New York City’s small businesses an extra boost by making them more accessible and allowing them to build off the NYC brand,” said Commissioner Walsh.

“From the days of ‘The Big Apple’ to the digital age, New York City has long been the best-known brand in the world,” said Council Member Brewer. “That’s why today I am excited to join with the Mayor and Speaker Quinn to announce that the City has succeeded in acquiring the domain name .nyc. Back in 2008 I introduced a City Council Resolution in support of the .nyc acquisition. We held a hearing on its potential benefits, and it is deeply gratifying to see our efforts come to fruition today. The .nyc domain will have immediate and long-term benefits. NYC-based entities can apply for a .nyc brand to affirm their New York cachet, consumers can search for businesses that offer locally-made goods, and city service providers can create unique .nyc domain names that identify their local roots. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg, Rachel Haot, DoITT Commissioner Rahul Merchant, and Speaker Quinn for their efforts, and I look forward to working together to ensure that all New Yorkers discover this tremendous new opportunity to brand their goods, services, and ideas as uniquely New York.”

“Online search is increasingly driven not only by what a business does, but also where it is located,” said Ken Hansen, General Manager for .nyc Registry Services for Neustar, which will operate .nyc on behalf of New York City. “A .nyc address will enable New Yorkers to easily find local businesses, services and information online.”

The top-level domain will provide New York City government entities, small businesses, nonprofit organisations and residents with an online identity that establishes their location and enables community collaboration and communication. Launching a geographic top-level domain is an important part of New York City’s digital strategy as outlined in the Digital Roadmap by helping residents locate government services more easily online, encouraging the discovery and growth of local businesses, promoting tourism throughout the City’s five boroughs and spreading the image of New York City around the world. A .nyc address also makes it easier for users to find a search result located in NYC.