CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html><html lang="en" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns#"><head><meta charset="utf-8" /><title>Developing Policy at ICANN - ICANN</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport" /><meta content="" name="description" /><meta content="" name="author" /><link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/application-2b5a6aa2b66735302c8ef87e4e13b156bb18594e9127ec856584fe0a78157b89.css" media="all" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/application-2b5a6aa2b66735302c8ef87e4e13b156bb18594e9127ec856584fe0a78157b89.css" media="screen" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/font-awesome/6.5.1/css/all.min.css" media="screen" /><base href="/policy"><script>var languageCode = "en" var _mtm = window._mtm = window._mtm || []; _mtm.push({'mtm.startTime': (new Date().getTime()), 'event': 'mtm.Start'}); _mtm.push({'languageCode': languageCode, 'loggedIn':0}); (function() { var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.async=true; g.src="https://cdn.matomo.cloud/icann.matomo.cloud/container_neEM9EEy.js"; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })();</script></base></head><body><span external-links=""><a class="u-hiddenAndAccessible u-hiddenAndAccessible-shownOnFocus" href="#main-content">Skip to main content</a></span><header class="nav-collapse MainHeader" external_links=""><div class="ActionsBar--container"><div class="ActionsBar"><nav class="ActionsBar-primary"><ul class="Languages-list"></ul><ul class="Search"><li><div class="searchbox"><form class="search-form"><label class="hidden" for="search_text">Search ICANN.org</label><input type="search" name="search_text" id="search_text" value="" placeholder="Search ICANN.org" class="SearchBox-textField searchText" /><input type="hidden" name="previous_text" id="previous_text" autocomplete="off" /><input type="submit" name="commit" value="" class="SearchBox-submit" data-disable-with="" /></form></div></li></ul></nav><nav class="ActionsBar-secondary"><ul class="Actions"><li><a href="https://account.icann.org/authorize?redirect_uri=https://www.icann.org/oauth&client_id=0oa9o9k9rp8VUcyJL2p7&nonce=6f5398ba-8a62-4370-99a8-e00d981b692d&state=https://www.icann.org/">Log In</a></li><li><a href="https://account.icann.org/registeraccount?redirect_uri=https://www.icann.org/oauth&client_id=0oa9o9k9rp8VUcyJL2p7&nonce=6f5398ba-8a62-4370-99a8-e00d981b692d&state=https://www.icann.org/">Sign Up</a></li></ul></nav></div></div><div class="MainHeader-navigation" external-links=""><a class="MainHeader-logo" href="/"><img src="/assets/icann_logo-060b2be98ed365541773152e2d7bb0ce5777c299d04fce4d89a14bc8fbc2a14a.png" /></a><div class="menu-button"><span class="touch-button mobile-menu"><i class="navicon fa fa-bars fa-lg"></i></span></div><nav role="navigation"><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/en/beginners">Get Started</a><div class="nav-dropdown"><a href="/en/beginners">ICANN for Beginners</a><a href="/en/about/participate/fellowships">Fellowship Program</a><a href="/public-responsibility-support/nextgen">NextGen@ICANN Program</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/history">History</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/news">News and Media</a><div class="nav-dropdown"><a href="/news/announcements">Announcements</a><a href="/news/blog">Blog</a><a href="/media-en">Media Resources</a><a href="/resources/pages/press-releases-en">Press Releases</a><a href="https://info.icann.org/LP---Regional-Newsletter.html">Global Newsletters</a><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="https://subscribe.icann.org/">ICANN News Subscriptions</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/regional-reports-2021-2021-08-24-en">Regional Reports</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/policy">Policy</a><div class="nav-dropdown policy"><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="/policy#how_is_policy_developed">Develop Policy</a><a href="/resources/pages/odp-2021-04-26-en">Operational Design Phase (ODP)</a><a href="/policy/implementation">Implement Policy</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/public-comments">Public Comment</a><div class="nav-dropdown public-comment"><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment?sort-param=upcoming-date&sort-direction=asc&upcoming-sort-param=upcoming-date&upcoming-sort-direction=desc&open-sort-param=open-closed-date&open-sort-direction=asc&pending-sort-param=pending-report-due-date&pending-sort-direction=desc">Public Comment Home</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/upcoming-proceedings?sort-param=upcoming-date&sort-direction=asc&page=1">Upcoming Proceedings</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment?sort-param=upcoming-date&sort-direction=asc&upcoming-sort-param=upcoming-date&upcoming-sort-direction=desc&open-sort-param=open-closed-date&open-sort-direction=asc&pending-sort-param=pending-report-due-date&pending-sort-direction=desc">Open Proceedings</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/closed-proceedings?page=1&sort-param=closed-date&sort-direction=desc">Closed Proceedings</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/about">About Public Comment</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/other-public-consultations">Other Public Consultations</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/resources">Resources</a><div class="nav-dropdown"><a href="https://icann.org/en/board-activities-and-meetings">Board Activities and Meetings</a><a href="/resources/pages/mechanisms-2014-03-20-en">Accountability Mechanisms</a><a href="/en/resources/registrars">Registrars</a><a href="/resources/pages/registries-46-2012-02-25-en">Registry Operators</a><a href="/resources/pages/domain-name-registrants-2017-06-20-en">Domain Name Registrants</a><a href="/en/resources/compliance">Contractual Compliance</a><a href="/dns-security-threat">Domain Name Security Threats</a><a href="/resources/pages/pp-services-2017-08-31-en">Privacy and Proxy Services</a><a href="/en/government-engagement">Government Engagement</a><a href="/en/careers">Careers</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/complaints-office">Complaints Office</a><a href="/en/help">I Need Help</a><a href="/icann-photo-mosaic">ICANN 25th Anniversary Photo Mosaic</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="/community">Community</a><div class="nav-dropdown community"><a href="/en/engagement-calendar">Engagement Calendar</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div><div class="nav-item"><a class="nav-item-link" href="#">Quicklinks</a><div class="nav-dropdown quicklinks"><a href="/en/board-activities-and-meetings">Board Activities and Meetings</a><a href="/dataprotectionprivacy">Data Protection and Privacy</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/domain-name-registrants-2017-06-20-en">Domain Name Registrants</a><a href="/en/engagement-calendar">Engagement Calendar</a><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="https://www.iana.org/">IANA Services</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/en/icann-acronyms-and-terms">ICANN Acronyms and Terms</a><a href="/grant-program-en">ICANN Grant Program</a><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/">New gTLD Program</a><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="https://pti.icann.org/">Public Technical Identifiers (PTI)</a><a class="active" aria-current="page" href="https://opendata.icann.org/">Open Data</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/compliance/complaint">Question About A Domain Name?</a><a href="https://www.icann.org/technology">Technology @ ICANN</a><a href="/en/government-engagement/wsis20-outreach-network">WSIS+20 Outreach Network</a></div><span class="touch-button mobile-submenu"><i class="navicon fa fa-caret-down"></i></span></div></nav></div></header><main class="u-fullWidth" id="main-content"><section class="Hero Hero--policy Home-policy" style=""><div class="Hero-content"><div class="Hero-contentContainer"><h1>Developing Policy<br /> at ICANN</h1><p>A fundamental part of <a href="/en/resources/policy/mission">ICANN's Mission</a> is to coordinate policy development related to the Internet's system of unique identifiers. <p>We employ open and transparent policy development mechanisms that promote well-informed decisions based on expert advice, and in collaboration with entities most affected by policy development. <a href="/en/resources/policy/participate">Learn how you can participate</a>.</p></p></div></div></section><div class="wrapper"><div class="Policy-content"><h1 id="what_is_policy">What is ICANN Policy?</h1><p>There are multiple kinds of policy within the ICANN world: formal policies related to the global internet's system of unique identifiers (DNS), operational policies, and general practices. Learn more about our Mission and Core Values and how policy is developed in the <a href="/en/about/governance/bylaws">ICANN Bylaws</a>.</p><div class="policy-types"><div class="policy-types-type"><h2>1. DNS Policy</h2><p>DNS Policies are developed through formal policy development processes (PDPs), as set forth by the <a href="/en/about/governance/bylaws">Bylaws</a>.</p><p>Examples of DNS Policy:</p><ul><li><a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/council/policy/new-gtlds">New gTLD Program</a></li><li><a href="/en/resources/registrars/transfers/policy">Inter Registrar Transfer Policy</a></li><li><a href="/en/resources/registrars/consensus-policies/errp">Expired Registration Recovery Policy</a></li><li><a class="u-linkArrow" href="/en/resources/policy/dns">View all ICANN DNS Policy</a></li></ul></div><div class="policy-types-type"><h2>2. Operational Policy</h2><p>Operational policies define how ICANN operates as an organisation. These policies are not subject to a policy development process (PDP), but community input is generally sought via public comment or other means.</p><p>Example of Operational Policy:</p><ul><li><a href="/en/groups/board/governance/coi">Conflicts of Interest Policy</a></li><li><a class="u-linkArrow" href="/en/resources/policy/operational">View all ICANN Operational Policy</a></li></ul></div><div class="policy-types-type"><h2>3. General Practices</h2><p>ICANN relies on many established practices that have not necessarily gone through a formalised Board approval process. Examples include the 30-day public comment requirement for Bylaw changes as well as the rules relating to public comment forums.</p></div></div><section class="policy-development"><h1 id="how_is_policy_developed">How is DNS Policy Developed?</h1><div class="policy-development-content"><p>Policy recommendations are developed and refined by the ICANN Community through its Supporting Organizations (SOs) and influenced by Advisory Committees (ACs) – all composed of volunteers from across the world – in a "bottom-up", open and transparent process. Each Supporting Organization has its own specific policy development process. Learn more about this work in the “Multistakeholder Policy Development” infographic below.</p></div><blockquote><em>“The ICANN Community works hard to improve and streamline its policy development mechanisms so as many global stakeholders as possible can participate and have their voices heard.”</em><a href="/profiles/"><p><div class="Profile-image"><img src="/assets/default_avatar-8ffb6a4263d44cb58bcf0f5a38f6c3ebaffb3efd48ddc99ca477d727baf137c9.png" /></div><div class="Profile-job">David Olive<br>Senior Vice President, Policy Development Support</div></p></a></blockquote></section><br /><div class="policy-images"><div class="policy-center-image-box"><div class="policy-development-graphic"><img src="/assets/ICANN Policy Development Report 2021_microcontent_TW_1200x600-eab0e5acebcb5c531a6100b708e6ad3cf31ac26e6d578642506b54112faf147e.png" /></div><div class="policy-development-text">Learn more about ICANN's Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees<div class="policy-development-pdfs align-pdf"><ul class="EmbeddedHTML" style="float: left;"><li><strong>English  <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-en.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li><li><strong>العربية  <a href="https://www.icann.org/ar/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-ar.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li><li><strong>Español  <a href="https://www.icann.org/es/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-es.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li></ul><ul class="EmbeddedHTML" style="float: right;"><li><strong>Français  <a href="https://www.icann.org/fr/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-fr.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li><li><strong>Pусский <a href="https://www.icann.org/ru/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-ru.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li><li><strong>中文 <a href="https://www.icann.org/zh/system/files/files/icann-policy-development-report-16jun21-zh.pdf">PDF </a></strong></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="explore" dir="ltr"></div><div class="policy-image-left"><div class="policy-image-box"><div class="policy-development-graphic"><img src="/assets/policy-micro-large-64ad86dd29615b81c63ae5bc1eb2a14e7c5aa4ab0aafe567fc00a7de0d16f9e6.jpg" /></div><div class="policy-development-pdfs align-pdf"><ul class="EmbeddedHTML"><li><strong>English <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPS_0Ut2FRk&list=PLQziMT9GXafXm-5MHQ5YIcRNy5rdUCRhS&index=1">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-en.pdf">PDF </a>(327 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>العربية <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEqzvpGUdDY&list=PLQziMT9GXafXm-5MHQ5YIcRNy5rdUCRhS&index=4">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/ar/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-ar.pdf">PDF </a>(411 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Español <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8xGMHlMXZU&list=PLQziMT9GXafXm-5MHQ5YIcRNy5rdUCRhS&index=2">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/es/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-es.pdf">PDF </a>(335 KB) </strong></li><li><strong>Français <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ5aoRZMPXw&list=PLQziMT9GXafXm-5MHQ5YIcRNy5rdUCRhS&index=5">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/fr/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-fr.pdf">PDF </a>(338 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Português  <a href="https://www.icann.org/pt/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-pt.pdf">PDF </a>(336 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Pусский <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJcgqmHiE64&list=PLQziMT9GXafXm-5MHQ5YIcRNy5rdUCRhS&index=3">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/ru/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-ru.pdf">PDF </a>(431 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Türkçe <a href="https://www.icann.org/tr/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-tr.pdf">PDF </a>(310 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>中文 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1-8TjZJua4&feature=youtu.be">Video </a>| <a href="https://www.icann.org/zh/system/files/files/multistakeholder-policy-development-31jan17-zh.pdf">PDF </a>(395 KB)</strong></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="policy-image-right"><div class="policy-image-box"><div class="policy-development-graphic"><img src="/assets/advice_section_880x440-04a00e365e5ba1b0f10f34a0ca7126adb9db3d7a84666b29882c0cd0be209e1d.png" /></div><div class="policy-development-pdfs align-pdf"><ul class="EmbeddedHTML"><li><strong>English  <a href="https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-en.pdf">PDF </a>(317 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>العربية  <a href="https://www.icann.org/ar/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-ar.pdf">PDF </a>(406 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Español  <a href="https://www.icann.org/es/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-es.pdf">PDF </a>(320 KB) </strong></li><li><strong>Français  <a href="https://www.icann.org/fr/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-fr.pdf">PDF </a>(320 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Português  <a href="https://www.icann.org/pt/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-pt.pdf">PDF </a>(343 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Pусский <a href="https://www.icann.org/ru/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-ru.pdf">PDF </a>(330 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>Türkçe <a href="https://www.icann.org/tr/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-tr.pdf">PDF </a>(320 KB)</strong></li><li><strong>中文 <a href="https://www.icann.org/zh/system/files/files/multistakeholder-advice-development-30apr21-zh.pdf">PDF </a>(609 KB)</strong></li></ul></div></div></div></div><section style="clear: both;"><h2><strong>ICANN Supporting Organizations (SOs)</strong> - Develop and Refine ICANN Policy</h2><section class="supporting-organizations"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>GNSO</h2><a class="org-link" href="http://gnso.icann.org">gnso.icann.org</a></div><p>The Generic Name Supporting Organization (GNSO) is responsible for developing and recommending to the ICANN Board substantive policies relating to generic top-level domains.</p><p>Learn more about <a href="http://gnso.icann.org/en/about/participation.htm">how to get involved</a> with the GNSO.</p></div></div><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>ccNSO</h2><a class="org-link" href="http://ccnso.icann.org">ccnso.icann.org</a></div><p>The Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO) is responsible for developing and recommending to the Board global policies relating to country-code top-level domains.</p></div></div><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>ASO</h2><a class="org-link" href="http://aso.icann.org">aso.icann.org</a></div><p>The Address Supporting Organization (ASO) is responsible for advising the Board with respect to policy issues relating to the operation, assignment, and management of Internet addresses.</p><p>Membership into the ASO is available only to Regional Internet Registries, but you can learn <a href="http://aso.icann.org/category/news/">more about their work</a> on their website.</p></div></div></section></section><section><h2><strong>ICANN Advisory Committees (ACs)</strong> - Advise the Board</h2><section class="supporting-organizations"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>ALAC</h2><a class="org-link" href="http://atlarge.icann.org">atlarge.icann.org</a></div><p>The At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) is responsible for considering and providing advice on the activities of ICANN, insofar as they relate to the interests of individual Internet users.</p><p>Join ALAC! Learn about their <a href="/en/about/participate/how">application process</a>.</p></div></div><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>SSAC</h2><a class="org-link" href="/resources/pages/ssac-2012-02-25-en">ssac.icann.org</a></div><p>The Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) is responsible for advising the ICANN community and Board on matters relating to the security and integrity of the Internet's naming and address allocation systems.</p><p>SSAC is an invite-only organization.</p></div></div><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>RSSAC</h2><a class="org-link" href="/resources/pages/rssac-4c-2012-02-25-en">rssac.icann.org</a></div><p>The Root Server System Advisory Committee (RSSAC) is responsible for advising the ICANN community and Board on matters relating to the operation, administration, security, and integrity of the Internet's Root Server System.</p></div></div><div class="supporting-organizations-organization"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content"><div class="supporting-organizations-organization-content-header"><h2>GAC</h2><a class="org-link" href="http://gac.icann.org">gac.icann.org</a></div><p>The Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) is responsible for providing advice on the activities of ICANN as they relate to concerns of governments, particularly matters where there may be an interaction between ICANN's policies and various laws and international agreements or where they may affect public policy issues.</p><p>You need to be a formally acknowledged representative of a government or international organization to become a member. You can <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#abcccac886d8dfcacdcdebc2c8cac5c585c4d9cc">email GAC’s secretariat</a> for more info.</p></div></div></section></section><section class="accountability-and-transparency"><h1 id="accountability">Accountability and Transparency</h1><p>Learn more about ICANN community groups by reviewing their <a href="https://community.icann.org/x/RJBME">charters and operating documents.</a></p></section><section class="presentations-and-updates"><h1 id="updates">Pre-Conference Presentations & Monthly Updates</h1><div class="policy-updates"><h2>Policy Updates</h2><p>Each monthly issue of the Policy Update provides the latest status on policy issues working their way through the bottom-up, consensus-based policy development processes within ICANN. This newsletter accommodates ICANN newcomers and veterans by providing high-level explanations of a broad range of ICANN policy development activities, detailed updates on specific issues, and links to more information.</p><p>Complex policy matters require much study; and controversial issues stimulate much discussion within ICANN’s multistakeholder community. The result: not every policy topic passes a significant milestone every month. Where there are new developments to report, Policy Update runs an article. If a matter is still progressing, but has not hit a newsworthy milestone since last month’s issue of Policy Update, we provide a link to the most recent past article. This approach makes it easy for you to scan new developments, while still providing background information with one-click convenience.</p><p>Policy Update increases your access to ICANN policy information, and you can get it delivered through a free online subscription. To receive Policy Update via e-mail every month, simply visit the ICANN Subscription page, enter your e-mail address, and then select ICANN Policy Update to subscribe.</p><p><a class="u-linkArrow" href="/en/resources/policy/update">View All Policy Updates</a></p></div><aside><h2>Presentations</h2><p>To help the community prepare for upcoming Public Meetings, the Policy Development Support Staff conducts community webinars a week or two before each meeting. During each webinar, the team identifies critical up-coming issues and provides general overviews of other policy development activities that are likely to be discussed at each Public Meeting. This page is an archive of those most recent presentations.</p><p><a class="u-linkArrow" href="/en/resources/policy/presentations">View All Presentations</a></p><h2>Questions? Comments?</h2><p>Please send your inquiry to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#78081714111b01550b0c191e1e38111b19161656170a1f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="18687774717b61356b6c797e7e58717b79767636776a7f">[email protected]</span></a>.</p><p>For more information on Registration Data, please visit our <a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/registration-data-2021-08-12-en">Registration Data at ICANN page.</a></p></aside></section><hr /><section class="policy-making"><div class="policy-making-image"><img src="/assets/policy_making-fa7ff1a007b6f313e3607d280752d10fd30fe306180774090693cd7bc89a7298.png" /></div><h1 id="participate">Participate in Policy-Making</h1><p>ICANN policy is developed by the community in a bottom-up, multistakeholder fashion. There are multiple ways in which you can participate, from attending a meeting in person, joining a working group or webinar to contributing to the Public Comment process.</p><p><a class="u-linkArrow" href="/en/resources/policy/participate">View All Opportunities for Participation</a></p></section></div></div></main><footer class="MainFooter" external_links="" id="main_footer"><section class="FooterDisclaimer" style="display: none">ICANN is not responsible for profile content or verification of user details.</section><section class="FooterSocial"><ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/icannnews"><i class="fa-brands fa-youtube"></i>YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://www.twitter.com/icann"><i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></i>Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/icann"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin-in"></i>LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/icann"><i class="fa-brands fa-flickr"></i>Flickr</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/icannorg"><i class="fa-brands fa-facebook-f"></i>Facebook </a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/global-newsletter"><i class="fa fa-envelope"></i>Newsletters</a></li><li><a href="https://community.icann.org"><i class="fa fa-user"></i>Community Wiki</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/blog"><i class="fa fa-pencil"></i>ICANN Blog</a></li></ul></section><div class="MainFooter-content"><nav class="FooterMenu"><div class="FooterMenu-item non-account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Who We Are</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="/get-started">Get Started</a></li><li><a href="http://learn.icann.org/">ICANN Learn</a></li><li><a href="/en/about/participate">Participate</a></li><li><a href="/diversity-en">Diversity at ICANN</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/groups-2012-02-06-en">Groups</a></li><li><a href="/en/board/directors">Board Members</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/presidentsandceo-corner">President's Corner</a></li><li><a href="/organization">Staff</a></li><li><a href="/en/careers">Careers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/dprd">Public Responsibility</a></li></ul></div><div class="FooterMenu-item non-account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Contact Us</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="/locations">Locations</a></li><li><a href="/en/help">I Need Help</a></li><li><a href="/resources/pages/report-security-issues-2018-05-24-en">Report Security Issues</a></li><li><a href="/contact/certificate-authority">Certificate Authority</a></li><li><a href="/resources/pages/contact-f2-2012-02-25-en">Registry Liaison</a></li><li><a href="/ombuds">Ombuds</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/complaints-office">Complaints Office</a></li><li><a href="/media-en">Media Resources</a></li></ul></div><div class="FooterMenu-item account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Accountability And Transparency</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="/en/news/in-focus/accountability/mechanisms">Accountability Mechanisms</a></li><li><a href="/en/about/transparency">Document Disclosure</a></li><li><a href="/resources/pages/irp-2012-02-25-en">Independent Review Process</a></li><li><a href="/groups/board/governance/reconsideration">Request for Reconsideration</a></li><li><a href="/ec">Empowered Community</a></li><li><a href="/employee-anonymous-hotline-policy-procedures-whistleblower">Employee Anonymous Hotline Policy and Procedures</a></li></ul></div><div class="FooterMenu-item non-account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Governance</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="/resources/pages/governance/governance-en">Governance Documents</a></li><li><a href="/en/about/agreements">Agreements</a></li><li><a href="/resources/reviews/org">Organizational Reviews</a></li><li><a href="/resources/reviews/aoc">Specific Reviews</a></li><li><a href="/about/annual-report">Annual Report</a></li><li><a href="/en/about/financials">Financials</a></li><li><a href="/en/about/planning">Planning</a></li><li><a href="/en/news/rfps">RFPs</a></li><li><a href="/en/news/litigation">Litigation</a></li><li><a href="/en/news/correspondence">Correspondence</a></li></ul></div><div class="FooterMenu-item non-account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Help</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="/en/help/dispute-resolution">Dispute Resolution</a></li><li><a href="/en/help/dndr">Domain Name Dispute Resolution</a></li><li><a href="/en/help/name-collision">Name Collision</a></li><li><a href="https://lookup.icann.org/">ICANN Lookup</a></li><li><a href="https://rdrs.icann.org/">Registration Data Request Service (RDRS)</a></li></ul></div><div class="FooterMenu-item non-account-transp"><h3 class="FooterMenu-title">Data Protection</h3><ul class="FooterSubmenu"><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/privacy">Data Privacy Practices</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/privacy/policy">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/privacy/tos">Terms of Service</a></li><li><a href="https://www.icann.org/privacy/cookies">Cookies Policy</a></li></ul></div></nav></div><section class="copyright"><p><span>© Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.</span><span><a href="/en/help/privacy">Privacy Policy</a></span><span><a href="/en/help/tos">Terms of Service</a></span><span><a href="/privacy/cookies">Cookies Policy</a></span></p></section></footer><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script src="/assets/application-6c4adc256df5e170b99264a31e0ddc4a6e82ad6f4b22926f5c3bef5a2da9c9c9.js"></script><script src="/glossary_terms.js"></script><div class="cookie-notification"><div class="wrapper"><h4>A note about our terms of service:</h4><p>We have updated our electronic terms of service to provide greater transparency and align with laws applicable to us. <a href='/privacy'>Learn more</a>.</p><p>This site uses cookies to deliver an efficient user experience and to help us see how the site is used. <a href='/privacy/cookies'>Learn more</a>.<span class="js-close-cookie-notification" data-resource="policies_index" data-domain="www.icann.org"><i class="close-icon fa fa-times"></i>OK</span></p></div></div><div class="acronym-helper"><div class="wrapper"><div class="acronym-helper-term">Domain Name System</div><div class="acronym-helper-definition">Internationalized Domain Name ,IDN,"IDNs are domain names that include characters used in the local representation of languages that are not written with the twenty-six letters of the basic Latin alphabet ""a-z"". An IDN can contain Latin letters with diacritical marks, as required by many European languages, or may consist of characters from non-Latin scripts such as Arabic or Chinese. Many languages also use other types of digits than the European ""0-9"". The basic Latin alphabet together with the European-Arabic digits are, for the purpose of domain names, termed ""ASCII characters"" (ASCII = American Standard Code for Information Interchange). These are also included in the broader range of ""Unicode characters"" that provides the basis for IDNs. The ""hostname rule"" requires that all domain names of the type under consideration here are stored in the DNS using only the ASCII characters listed above, with the one further addition of the hyphen ""-"". The Unicode form of an IDN therefore requires special encoding before it is entered into the DNS. The following terminology is used when distinguishing between these forms: A domain name consists of a series of ""labels"" (separated by ""dots""). The ASCII form of an IDN label is termed an ""A-label"". All operations defined in the DNS protocol use A-labels exclusively. The Unicode form, which a user expects to be displayed, is termed a ""U-label"". The difference may be illustrated with the Hindi word for ""test"" — परीका — appearing here as a U-label would (in the Devanagari script). A special form of ""ASCII compatible encoding"" (abbreviated ACE) is applied to this to produce the corresponding A-label: xn--11b5bs1di. A domain name that only includes ASCII letters, digits, and hyphens is termed an ""LDH label"". Although the definitions of A-labels and LDH-labels overlap, a name consisting exclusively of LDH labels, such as""icann.org"" is not an IDN."</div></div></div><script>$(document).ready(function(){ $(".youku").addClass('youkublue') $(".youku").hover(function() { $(this).addClass('youkuwhite') $(this).removeClass('youkublue') }); $("a.youku-toggle").on("mouseover", function() { $(".youku").addClass('youkuwhite'); $(".youku").removeClass('youkublue'); }).on("mouseout", function() { $(".youku").addClass('youkublue'); $(".youku").removeClass('youkuwhite'); }); }); </script><script>(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'8e98b6ad786aa8da',t:'MTczMjc3OTY2Ni4wMDAwMDA='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.nonce='';a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();</script></body></html>