Since ICANN was founded more than ten years ago as a not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to coordinating the Internet's addressing system, one of its foundational principles has been to promote competition in the domain name marketplace while ensuring Internet security and stability. The expansion of the generic top-level domain (gTLD) space will allow for a greater degree of innovation and choice. This is a complex and involved process that requires the coordination and consensus of many groups and factions. The ICANN team continues to share with the Internet community the ongoing program developments through the release of draft applicant guidebooks, excerpts, explanatory memos and in -person meetings. All details on the many facets of the program can be found via this page.

In a world with over 1.6 billion Internet users – and growing – diversity, choice and competition are essential to the continued success and reach of the global network.

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