As we look ahead to the ICANN81 Annual General Meeting, scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, from 9-14 November 2024, anticipation is building. A diverse melting pot of many cultures and identities, Istanbul provides an environment where ideas flourish and creativity thrives. I am confident this unique setting will enhance the overall meeting experience.
Hosted by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), ICANN81 will feature workshops, public forums, and policy discussions, providing opportunities for debate and collaboration among government representatives, business leaders, technical experts, and other stakeholders. The annual Dr. Tarek Kamel award, which recognizes members of the ICANN community for significant efforts in capacity development related to ICANN's mission, will be presented.
Topics at the meeting will include the ongoing review of the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Transfer Policy, which aims to provide enhanced domain name portability. The impact of this policy results in greater consumer and business choice, enabling registrants to select the registrar that offers the best services and prices for their needs. Also expected is the delivery of the final report and recommendations from the GNSO Expedited Policy Development Process on Internationalized Domain Names, which ultimately will allow for the introduction of variant generic top-level domains.
We expect numerous discussions on topics such as how root server operators should handle Root Server System security incidents, and the guidelines to follow when changing their Internet Protocol addresses. Additionally, the Applicant Support and Registry Service Provider Evaluation programs for the New gTLD Program: Next Round, both scheduled to open in Q4 2024, will be discussed.
Stay tuned for future updates on the meeting. I look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful city.
