If you are unfamiliar with the New gTLD Program then this page is a good place to start as it has all the basic materials and information that you will need to learn the fundamentals and familiarize yourself with the program.

gTLD stands for generic top-level domains and is the technical term for the suffixes - extension of three or more characters like dot-com, dot-org or dot-info – which appear at the end of Internet addresses. They are part of the structure that forms the Internet's global addressing system, or domain-name system (DNS), and are used to route traffic through the Internet.

Since ICANN was founded, one of its foundational principles has been to promote competition in the domain name marketplace while ensuring Internet security and stability. The expansion of gTLDs is expected to allow for more innovation, choice and change to the Internet's addressing system.

The decision to introduce new gTLDs followed a detailed and lengthy consultation process with all constituencies of the global Internet community and was represented by a wide variety of stakeholders – governments, individuals, civil societies, business and intellectual property constituencies, and the technology community. Also contributing to this policy work were ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC), Country Code Names Supporting Organization (ccNSO), and Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC).

The policy was completed by the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) in 2007, and adopted by ICANN's Board in June, 2008.

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

See also:

• New gTLD Program FAQ
• Glossary of Internet Terminology