Today, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) opened a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to identify three individuals to serve as Independent Objectors, including one who will act as chair, as part of the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: 2026 Round. The Independent Objectors will file Community and Limited Public Interest objections and appeals and participate in mediation, where appropriate. Although an individual may be affiliated with a firm, that person will be ultimately responsible for the processes described in this EOI. Individuals from the same firm will not be selected.
The 2026 Round includes an objection process, which affords certain parties an opportunity to advance arguments against identified applications for new gTLDs on different grounds. Objections may also be filed by Independent Objectors, who do not act on behalf of any particular persons or entities, but solely in the best interests of the public global Internet users.
To mitigate possible conflict-of-interest issues that may arise from having a single panelist serving as the Independent Objector, there will be a standing panel of three Independent Objectors, one of whom will act as the chair. Neither the ICANN organization nor the ICANN Board has authority to direct or require the Independent Objectors to file or not file any particular objection.
If an individual Independent Objector determines that an objection should be filed, that Independent Objector will initiate and pursue the objection in the public interest.
This is a public EOI, which means that anyone may participate.
For a complete overview of this EOI, including the timeline, please consult this webpage.
Indications of interest should be emailed to [email protected] and provide the following information:
Official responses to the EOI should be electronically submitted using ICANN's sourcing tool by 23:59 UTC on 20 April 2026. Access to this tool may be requested via the same email address.