EDITORIAL

Universal Acceptance Efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Daniel Fink, Stakeholder Engagement Director - Brazil

Have you noticed web addresses like mañana.lat, superação.dev.br, or conociendocharaña.gtic.gob.bo? These examples demonstrate the evolving ability of the Internet’s Domain Name System to represent regional languages. The web addresses were utilized during Universal Acceptance (UA) Day events in Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. Click on the links above to watch Youtube videos and learn more.

The increasing adoption of such domain names and email addresses signifies positive movement toward Universal Acceptance, which ensures that all valid domain names and email addresses function universally. This progress was highlighted during UA Day 2025 in Latin America and the Caribbean, where the community organized 15 events across the region. These initiatives involved technical adoptions, academic discussions, and broader outreach, indicating significant strides in achieving a more inclusive and multilingual Internet.

ICANN NEWS

Major Next Round Milestones Ahead

Preparations for launching the New gTLD Program: Next Round in April 2026 are ramping up as key elements of the program take shape.

As a reminder, the pre-evaluation application period of the Registry Service Provider (RSP) Evaluation Program closes 20 May 2025. ICANN org plans to publish the list of RSPs that have been successfully evaluated on the public-facing RSP Evaluation Program website in December of this year. The next chance to be evaluated will be during the new gTLD application window, which is expected to open in April 2026. All new gTLD applicants must use an RSP that has been successfully evaluated through the program. For more information, read the recent announcement. 

The Fourth Public Comment proceeding for Proposed Language for Draft Sections of the Next Round Applicant Guidebook closed on 2 April and a summary report was published on 16 April. This was the last opportunity for comments on draft sections of the guidebook before the entire document is published for Public Comment later this month. A final, Board-approved version of the guidebook is expected before December 2025.

ICANN’s Applicant Support Program already has received more than three dozen applications. If you are curious about the number or geographic origin of the entities applying, look no further than the ASP Statistics page on the New gTLD Program website. Interested organizations are strongly encouraged to apply early so that they can take full advantage of available support during the gTLD application process. 

Next Round outreach materials can now be translated into additional languages outside of the ICANN six (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) through the Next Round In YOUR Language program. To learn more, please visit the program Wiki page.

Call for Expressions of Interest: ICANN 2026 NomCom Chair and Chair-Elect

ICANN org is seeking Expressions of Interest for the Chair and Chair-Elect of the 2026 Nominating Committee (NomCom).

The NomCom Chair is responsible for organizing the NomCom in its activities to select certain ICANN Board members and individuals who will serve in key leadership positions within ICANN's Supporting Organizations (SOs) and Advisory Committees (ACs) in accordance with ICANN's Bylaws. The Chair is a non-voting member of the NomCom selected by ICANN's Board to serve until the conclusion of the next ICANN Annual Meeting.

The Chair-Elect, a position created as a result of an independent review of the NomCom, is not intended to fill an advisory role. Rather, the Chair-Elect will receive the benefit of training while serving alongside the Chair, gaining skills and knowledge to be applied for the Chair-Elect's anticipated succession into the role of the Chair.

Candidates for Chair-Elect should possess the same skills as candidates for the Chair.

Expressions of Interest, which will be maintained as confidential, should be sent to NomComChair2026@icann.org by no later than 13 May 2025. A suggested form for submitting an Expression of Interest is available here.

To learn more, read the announcement.

Apply Now for NextGen@ICANN84 Program

ICANN is calling for applications for NextGen@ICANN participants to attend the ICANN84 Annual General Meeting in Muscat, Oman, 25–30 October 2025.

ICANN wants to hear from university students interested in the future of the Internet and participating in the Public Meeting who are living and studying in the Asia Pacific region. If ICANN84 is held virtually, the NextGen@ICANN Program also will be held virtually.

The NextGen@ICANN Program provides opportunities for university students to better understand how ICANN contributes to the technical governance of the Internet and the multistakeholder model. Through an immersive program, participants learn about topics such as the Internet ecosystem, Internet governance, and policy development at ICANN. The program also provides insight into how to engage and contribute to the work that supports the stability, resiliency, and reliability of the Internet.

Read the announcement to learn more.

ICANN would love your feedback!

If you have any questions or ideas for how we can improve the monthly newsletters in your region, please send all related feedback to newsletterfeedback@icann.org.

LAC ACTIVITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS

ICANN Near You: Santiago, Chile

ICANN’s Latin American and Caribbean engagement team visited Santiago, Chile, from 22 to 24 April 2025, marking the launch of the ICANN Near You program introduced this year. This initiative aims to strengthen regional engagement by bringing ICANN’s technical mission closer to local communities, and fostering spaces for dialogue, training, and collaboration.

22 April | Technical Workshop on DNS Security

• The visit began with a closed technical workshop focused on the Domain Name System (DNS), including security of the DNS, and a Practical DNS Lab for Recursive DNS configuration, held at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) headquarters. The session was tailored for Internet Service Providers and representatives of the Chilean government.

• The workshop was co-organized by ECLAC and its Digital Transformation Lab, the Internet Society, the Network Information Center of Chile (NIC Chile), Chile’s Internet Exchange Point (PIT Chile), and Chile’s Regulatory Telecommunications Authority (SUBTEL), with support from German Cooperation.

23 April | Public Outreach Event in Partnership with NIC Chile

• The open outreach event took place at the W Hotel Santiago, organized in partnership with NIC Chile. This session was meant to introduce ICANN and its technical mission, provide a brief overview of how the DNS works, and highlight the ICANN Fellowship and NextGen programs as opportunities to participate with ICANN.

• The event was geared toward individuals who were not yet familiar with ICANN and attracted participants from academia, the private sector, civil society, and government. 

• We were grateful to see such a diverse and engaged audience. Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word through their networks.

23–24 April | Stakeholder Engagement Meetings

• The ICANN team held bilateral meetings with key Internet ecosystem stakeholders in Chile. These meetings were a valuable opportunity to connect in person, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.

ICANN CEO Kurtis Lindqvist Engages with Latin American and Caribbean Community

ICANN’s new CEO, Kurtis Lindqvist, joined over 70 members of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) community on 11 April for a dynamic and thought-provoking webinar. The session, moderated by Rodrigo de la Parra, ICANN Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, provided LAC stakeholders a unique opportunity to hear directly from Lindqvist about his vision for ICANN.

During the webinar, Lindqvist shared his reflections on the first few months of his tenure as CEO, discussing his background in the Åland Islands and how his experiences shape his leadership style. He offered insights into ICANN’s current challenges and opportunities, emphasizing the organization's commitment to serving the global public interest.

Kurtis also highlighted the important role the LAC region plays in ICANN’s global strategy and future priorities. The session encouraged open dialogue, with attendees asking questions about ICANN’s direction and how the community can be more actively involved.

This engaging conversation marks an important step in fostering stronger connections between ICANN and the LAC community, paving the way for continued collaboration and innovation in the digital space. 

You can access the recordings here (Passcode: *vf7EkZ*ZV).

GETTING TO KNOW THE ICANN COMMUNITY

Teresa Wankin

Trinidad and Tobago

Get to know Teresa Wankin, Secretary General of CANTO (Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations). 

In the coming months, we’ll be highlighting more members of our LAC Community with short videos shared on YouTube. Stay tuned!

POLICY UPDATE

Transfer Policy Review Update

During the GNSO Council Meeting at ICANN82, the Council voted to recommend that the ICANN Board adopt all 47 final recommendations in the Transfer Policy Review (TPR) Policy Development Process Working Group’s Final Report. The GNSO appreciates the incredible work and dedication of the TPR Working Group and especially their efforts to make the report more readable by frontloading the recommendations in the report along with an impact factor score and rationale for each recommendation.

DASC at ICANN83: Tackling Online Scams and Abuse

Since 2022, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) Domain Name Abuse Standing Committee (DASC) has helped country code top-level domain (ccTLD) managers share insights and strategies to combat domain name abuse. Focused on mitigation strategies, raising awareness, and collaboration rather than policymaking, DASC has explored abuse-tracking tools and generic top-level domain contract amendments. The committee conducted ccTLD Abuse Surveys in 2022 and 2024.

At ICANN83, DASC will spotlight the connection between online scams, financial crime, and domain name abuse. The session will highlight how ccTLD operators are addressing these issues and lay the groundwork for further explorations at ICANN84 among ccTLD operators, law enforcement, industry experts, and other stakeholders. 

More details about the ICANN83 ccNSO sessions will be available here.

GDS UPDATE

New Registration Data Request Service Monthly Metrics Published

The March 2025 Registration Data Request Service (RDRS) monthly usage metrics from the proof-of-concept pilot program have now been published. The data and metrics gathered are prepared to inform the ICANN Board’s consideration of the consensus policy recommendations related to the System for Standardized Access/Disclosure (SSAD).

Participation in the RDRS is voluntary for ICANN-accredited registrars and requestors, and the metrics provide an important set of data points on usage and demand. Review the most recent metrics that offer trends about the data that also offers guidance for improving the RDRS pilot program.

ICANN Around the World

Regional Offices:

Los Angeles, U.S.A. (Headquarters)

Brussels, Belgium

Istanbul, Türkiye

Montevideo, Uruguay

Singapore

Engagement Centers:

Beijing, China

Geneva, Switzerland

Nairobi, Kenya

Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

For address and contact information, visit: icann.org/contact