A glitch with the application system for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) has prompted the Internet's governing body to push the deadline for submissions to April 20.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said today that it received "a report of unusual behavior" related to its TLD Application System (TAS). "We then identified a technical issue with the TAS system software."
ICANN has been accepting gTLD applications via TAS since Jan. 12. At this point, there are 22 gTLDs, including .com, .org, and .net. In June, however, ICANN approved a plan that would allow people to apply for new gTLDs, like .pcmag, for example.
Initially, the application window was scheduled to close today, April 12, but the glitch prompted ICANN to shut down TAS until Tuesday and extend the application deadline until April 20.
"ICANN is taking the most conservative approach possible to protect all applicants and allow adequate time to resolve the issue," the organization said. "We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."
Signing up for a new gTLD is not as easy as claiming a new website, however. Applicants must pay a $185,000 evaluation fee, with $5,000 upfront. They might also be required to pay even more "in certain cases where specialized process steps are applicable," in addition to business startup costs, ICANN said.
Before the application period opened, members of Congress, the FTC, and Commerce Department were concerned that there was too much uncertainty surrounding the process. ICANN declined to delay the process, saying any objection was simply "unsubstantiated fear."
Earlier this week, Google confirmed that it would be applying for a gTLD, but the search giant did not reveal the names it would be looking to claim - .google or .youtube, perhaps?
One controversial gTLD is .xxx, intended for use by the adult industry. ICANN officially approved the creation of a .xxx domain in March 2011, paving the way for a virtual red-light district. The ICM registry opened up public registration for these adults-only domains in December.
For more from Chloe, follow her on Twitter @ChloeAlbanesius.
