Sponsored top level domains (TLDs) are only open to defined communities, unlike publicly available TLDs such as .com and .net. For example, the recently launched .aero TLD is only open to those connected with the aviation industry.
ICANN president Stuart Lynn said in a statement that experiences with the already introduced sponsored TLDs indicate that they "can be added smoothly and with little fanfare", because they "fill easily demonstrable community needs."
He also claimed that sponsored TLDs raise fewer business concerns, such as trade mark infringement, than unsponsored TLDs.
He also rejected concerns that sponsored TLDs might go the way of .org, originally formed for limited registrations, saying that the sponsored registries are contractually bound to follow their charters. He added, however, that there are still "significant unanswered questions" regarding the technical and business standards of the new sponsored TLD registries.
ICANN's invitation for comments is open to applicants for sponsored TLDs that were unsuccessful in the past and also open to new proposals and comments from any other interested parties.
Comments should be submitted by 10th December 2002.
Stuart Lynn's statement and personal assessment of the proposals can be found at:
www.icann.org/committees/ntepptf/new-gtld-action-plan-18oct02.htm