ICANN

.BERLIN, .PARIS, and a number of other new gTLDs that have been talked about in recent months... we don't when or if they'll ever be launched. Does ICANN?

From the outside looking in, ICANN's processes can sometimes look painfully slow. Even those well versed in the complexities of international organisations probably get a little dispirited with ICANN's apparent lack of speed at times.

Looking over the minutes of the New Delhi board meeting, that slowness is painfully apparent. Take new gTLDs as an example. Under an item entitled "new gTLDs – nest steps", the board resolved to direct: "staff to continue its implementation work on New gTLDs (…) discuss some issues raised by the staff and Board regarding implementation (…) and provide information to the Board in a timely manner to enable the Board to discuss the recommendations and implementation issues and quickly determine a course of action for the introduction new gTLDs."

Hum, excuse me but where's the real news here? When do we get a tentative date for a new round of gTLDs? Or even just an idea of what type of gTLDs ICANN might consider in this, what would be the third round of new Internet domain creation since ICANN came into being in 1998.

Actually, seasoned ICANN-followers will tell you that some of the answers are already there, lurking under the surface of some rather difficult-to-follow reports and previous board resolutions. ICANN even has a new gTLD page up on its website to provide a summary of what is known so far.

The official ICANN line is that "the board is expected to consider the policy recommendation (for the introduction of new gTLDs) in early 2008". Well, it's early 2008 now and as the Delhi board minutes show, the board's still trying to get the necessary information to build up to that exciting moment when it will finally decide something.