ICANN’s GNSO Council seeks volunteers for SPIRT
ICANN’s GNSO Council has opened a call for volunteers to join the Standing Predictability Implementation Review Team (SPIRT), which will address issues in the upcoming round of new domain names. Applications are due by 17 October 2025. The team will help ensure transparency and fairness in how changes to the program are managed, giving civil society and other stakeholders a chance to shape the process.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) Council is calling for volunteers to join the Standing Predictability Implementation Review Team (SPIRT). The team will provide guidance on potential issues that may arise in the New Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Program: Next Round, after the adoption of the Applicant Guidebook.
What SPIRT will do
The SPIRT will work with the GNSO Council and ICANN’s organisation to address non-minor changes during the program, using the Predictability Framework. Its work will help ensure that adjustments to the program are handled in a transparent and consistent way. Details of its responsibilities are described in the SPIRT Charter and the Predictability Framework.
How the team will work
The team will meet as needed, with rotating 60-minute meeting times. Key dates include:
- 17 October 2025: Volunteer application deadline
- 24 October 2025: Leadership application deadline
- 10–14 November 2025: Work begins
Who can join
The call is open to all members of the ICANN community, including Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and GNSO Stakeholder Groups and Constituencies. Volunteers should be ready to act in the best interest of the program and propose constructive solutions. The inaugural team must include at least one member from the original Policy Development Process Working Group and one from the PDP Implementation Review Team. At least half of the initial members will serve three-year terms.
How to apply
Community members interested in joining should contact the GNSO Secretariat at gnso-secs@icann.org by 17 October 2025, 23:59 UTC.
Why this matters
For civil society and other stakeholders, SPIRT represents an important chance to contribute to how the next round of domain names will be implemented. By participating, community members can help ensure predictability, transparency, and fairness in the expansion of the domain name system.
