Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels
This is an archive of Version October 2015 of the Authorization Process for Release of Two-Character ASCII Labels webpage. Click here for the current page. Click here to view the archive index of the Authorization Process webpage and see what was updated.
Authorization for Release of Non-Letter/Letter Two-Character Labels
Effective 1 December 2014, ICANN published a general authorization for release of all non-Letter/Letter two-character ASCII labels for all new gTLD Registry Operators. No further actions are required from new gTLD Registry Operators that seek to register and activate these two-character ASCII labels.
Process for Requesting Authorization for Release of Letter/Letter Two-Character Labels
The process for new gTLD Registry Operators to request authorization for the release of Letter/Letter two-character ASCII labels, will require the Registry Primary contact to complete the Authorization for Release of Letter/Letter Two-Character Request Form provided below. Note: In accordance to Section 6 of Specification 5 of the Registry Agreement, a list of reserved names for this section are still subject to the reservation requirements and will not be available for release at this time.
Once the request is received, ICANN will validate the completeness of the request and post it to this page for comments. The comment period for each request is 60 calendar days, and the governments will be notified of each request posted to this page. Within 7-10 days of the close of the comment period, the non-objected Letter/Letter two-character ASCII labels will be released via an Authorization that will be provided by ICANN to the Registry Operator.
All authorizations to release two-character ASCII labels from reservation will continue to be subject to all terms of the Registry Agreement.
As of 6 October, labels that have received comments regarding their release will be evaluated using the process described in ICANN's 11 August 2015 blog regarding resolving the release of two-character ASCII labels that have received comments. For more information, please view the Two-Character Letter/Letter Comments Consideration Process webpage.
Submitting Comments on Letter/Letter Requests
To post a comment to a request, click the "Submit Comments" hyperlink located next to the request in the table below. You will be directed to a web form. After you complete the web form and click "Verify Your Email," a box requesting a verification code will appear and the verification code will be sent to the e-mail address provided. Please input the verification code in the box, and your comment will be published. If you do not receive the verification code within one hour, we encourage you to check your spam folder. If the issue persists, please submit an inquiry to globalsupport@icann.org.
Comments are to be submitted while the 60-day public comment period is open for the corresponding gTLD or they might not be considered. If a comment is submitted for a letter/letter two-character label that has previously been authorized for release for the gTLD, the comment will not be considered.
ICANN may use the email address of the commenter to further communicate with the commenter and/or to substantiate or clarify the request. The commenter's email address may also be provided to the Registry Operator, if requested.
Comments will be reviewed and considered by ICANN in determining whether to authorize the release of requested Letter/Letter Two-Character ASCII Labels. ICANN will evaluate comments in light of the standard in the registry agreement, which states, "The Registry Operator may also propose the release of these reservations based on its implementation of measures to avoid confusion with the corresponding country codes, subject to approval by ICANN." As a result, comments not pertaining to confusion with the corresponding country code might be directed to recourse mechanisms, such as the Abuse Point of Contact, outside of this Authorization Process.
Two-Character Letter/Letter Comments Consideration Process webpage
Submit comments
View all comments submitted on or after 6 October 2015
View all comments submitted before 6 October 2015
Announcements and Updates
Read ICANN's announcement of the process launch for considering comments for two-character letter/letter labels (6 October 2015)
Read ICANN's blog on resolving the release of two-character ASCII labels with comments (11 August 2015)
Read ICANN's announcement of the updates to the process for release of two-character letter/letter ASCII Labels (20 February 2015)
Read ICANN's announcement of the process to request the release of two-character letter/letter ASCII Labels (1 December 2014)
Read ICANN's blog on the launch of the process for two-character ASCII Label Authorizations (12 November 2014)
Resources
View the Authorization for Release of Non-Letter/Letter Two-Character ASCII Labels
Download the Request for Release of Letter/Letter Two-Character Labels
Download the Request for Release of Letter/Letter Two-Character Labels – Appendix A
Download a How-to-Guide describing how to receive automated updates regarding Two-Character Requests
Submit comments
View all comments submitted on or after 6 October 2015
View all comments submitted before 6 October 2015
Click here to read Background information regarding the Authorization Process