Hello,
New TLDs change the landscape of the digital space and require additional knowledge and mechanisms to ensure their security and trustworthiness.
What are the key challenges associated with certifying domain registry services for new TLDs? What elements of standardization and oversight can be introduced to ensure high-quality certification of new TLDs?
What measures can be taken to improve transparency and reliability in the certification of new TLDs?

The certification of domain registry services for new Top-Level Domains (TLDs) involves a number of challenges and complexities. Here are some of the key issues that entities face when looking to certify domain registry services for new TLDs:

Meeting Technical Requirements:

Registry operators must ensure they have the technical capability to operate the TLD in a stable and secure manner. This includes having a robust domain name system (DNS) infrastructure capable of withstanding cyber-attacks and handling high volumes of traffic.
Meeting standards set by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and other regulatory bodies for things such as DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) implementation, which adds an additional layer of security.


Policy Adherence:

Compliance with ICANN policies and the Registry Agreement, which includes detailed rules about how the TLD must be operated.
Policies for domain registration, including eligibility criteria, dispute resolution, privacy and data protection, and measures to prevent abuse.


Financial Sustainability:

Providing evidence of financial stability to ensure ongoing operation, including the ability to fund the initial application process.
Setting pricing models that are competitive yet sustainable, especially considering the ICANN fees for operating a TLD.


Registry-Registrar Model:

Implementation of the EPP protocol (Extensible Provisioning Protocol) for communication between the registry and registrars.
Accrediting registrars and managing relationships with them, as well as ensuring that registrars adhere to policies for domain registration and rights protection mechanisms.


Security and Stability:

Protecting the integrity of the domain registration process against security threats such as domain hijacking or unauthorized changes to domain registration data.
Ensuring continuous uptime for the registry services and having a disaster recovery plan in place.


Rights Protection Mechanisms:

Implementing and enforcing rights protection mechanisms (RPMs) such as the Trademark Clearinghouse and the Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP).
Balancing the protection of intellectual property rights with the rights of domain registrants.


Scalability:

Designing systems that can scale with the growth in the number of domain names registered under the TLD.
Managing the potential expansion of the TLD through the introduction of second-level domains.
Internationalization and Local Presence Requirements:

For certain country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) or geographic TLDs, there may be requirements for local presence or proof of cultural, historical, or economic connection to the region.


Public Interest Commitments:

For some TLDs, there may be expectations or commitments to serve the public interest, such as supporting a particular language community or providing resources for a specific industry.


Global Policy Considerations:

Addressing the concerns of different stakeholder groups from various countries with differing laws and cultural considerations.
Ensuring compliance with global data protection laws, such as the GDPR in Europe.


Application and Evaluation Process:

Navigating the complex application process, including the preparation of a detailed application, going through the evaluation phase, and possibly dealing with objections or contention with other applicants for the same TLD.

Standardization and oversight in the certification process for new Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are vital for maintaining the security, stability, and reliability of the domain name system. Here are several elements that can support high-quality certification of new TLDs:

1. ICANN Guidelines and Policies:
  - Detailed, clear, and transparent guidelines from ICANN that cover all aspects of TLD operation should be developed and updated regularly.
  - Policies should mandate certain levels of service, data protection, privacy, security, and technical performance.

2. Mandatory Technical Standards:
  - Enforcing industry-standard technical requirements for all TLD registries such as DNSSEC, IPv6 support, Internationalized Domain Names (IDN) support for non-ASCII characters, and EPP.
  - Registry operators should also demonstrate redundancy, resilience, and disaster recovery capabilities.

3. Registry Accreditation Process:
  - A robust accreditation process to vet potential registry operators. This process should assess the applicant's technical, financial, and managerial capability to operate a TLD.
  - Periodic re-evaluation to ensure ongoing compliance with the established standards.

4. Operational Audits:
  - Regular operational audits by independent auditing firms to ensure that registry operators comply with ICANN policies and their own stated procedures.
  - Introduce a certification system for TLD operators that pass these audits successfully.

5. Security and Stability Assessments:
  - Independent cybersecurity firms should evaluate TLD infrastructure to guard against threats such as DDoS attacks.
  - A standard minimum level of security to be maintained by all TLD operators should be established.

6. Rights Protection Mechanisms:
  - Standardized and enforced rights protection mechanisms (RPMs) to safeguard intellectual property rights on the internet.
  - Inclusion of dispute resolution processes like the UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) and the URS (Uniform Rapid Suspension System).

7. Complaints and Appeals Processes:
  - Establish clear processes for registrants and third parties to file complaints concerning the registry operations.
  - A transparent appeals mechanism should be in place to handle any disputes related to TLD management.

8. Data Protection Standards:
  - Adherence to global privacy standards and data protection regulations, ensuring that personal information is managed in accordance with best practices and legal requirements.

9. Global Policy Engagement:
  - Engage with global stakeholders, including governments, to ensure that TLD policies are aligned with cultural, legal, and political expectations around the world.
  - Internationalized domain names and non-English identifiers should be supported to increase global access and inclusivity.

10. Community Involvement and Policy Development Process:
    - Encouraging the involvement of the internet user community, including business, technical, academic, and user groups, in the policy development process to enhance legitimacy and effectiveness.

11. Performance Benchmarking:
    - Establish benchmarks to measure TLD performance in terms of uptime, DNS query response time, and accuracy of WHOIS (or successor systems) data.

12. Education and Training Programs:
    - Offer training for registry operators to ensure that they understand and can comply with technical and policy requirements.

13. Market Competition Monitoring:
    - Oversee the competition in the TLD market to prevent monopolistic practices and ensure a diversity of offerings that benefit consumers.

By instituting such elements of standardization and oversight, ICANN, in partnership with other stakeholders, can promote a more consistent and high-quality certification process for new TLDs, thereby fostering trust and stability in the domain name ecosystem.

To achieve this, a combination of proactive and reactive measures can be implemented. These strategies include enhancing the publication of application material, ensuring clear certification criteria, establishing reporting and accountability measures, conducting independent audits and assessments, incorporating community-oriented decision-making processes, providing grievance and feedback mechanisms, monitoring and enforcement, updating policies and procedures, educating stakeholders, managing conflicts of interest, utilizing technology effectively, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.

Efforts to improve transparency and reliability involve making non-sensitive sections of TLD applications publicly available for review, creating detailed certification criteria, mandating regular reporting by certified TLD operators, and incorporating multi-stakeholder input into the certification and policy development process. Additionally, it is essential to establish transparent and accessible mechanisms for stakeholders to raise concerns about TLD registry operations and certification, and to implement ongoing monitoring to ensure continuous compliance with certification requirements. Furthermore, regular updates to certification policies and procedures, providing educational resources to help stakeholders understand the certification process, and ensuring legal and regulatory compliance are critical components of this effort.

These strategies aim to create a more transparent, reliable, and accountable certification process for new Top-Level Domains. They will require meticulous planning, implementation, and ongoing evaluation to ensure their comprehensive and effective execution.