ICANN’s new top-level domain (TLD) policy took center stage at last week’s inaugural .nxt conference in San Francisco, attracting representatives from across the domain name industry. Leading global domain registry CentralNic was well-represented at the conference, with a delegation led by CEO Ben Crawford and CTO Gavin Brown.

.nxt, the premier conference dedicated to highlighting the impending revolution regarding internet extensions, welcomed Brown as a contributor to the panel entitled “Running a Registry.” The session addressed one of the most important, and complex tasks of operating an Internet extension: the back-end technical operation.

The session made it clear that beyond engaging a back-end service provider with the technical ability to support a TLD, crucial factors in success for new TLDs include real-world experience in the industry, existing relationships with registrars and a detailed understanding of policy, operations and marketing factors.

“CentralNic has the demonstrable hands-on that the ICANN application process demands to successfully acquire a new Top Level Domain, plus we are able to offer packages tailored to low-volume, niche domains, in addition to high-volume domains,” said Brown.

Brown and his fellow panelists also explained how, with the implementation of this new gTLD policy, domain applicants will be well-advised to outsource the provision of a back-end registry to an existing registry operator, allowing the applicant to focus on marketing, and to insist on a customized solution and costing from a back-end provider.

Ben Crawford said: “We commend the .nxt conference for representing the creative evolution of the domain name industry, with the focus on enabling new top-level domains, rather than on regulating them.” Organized by Kieren McCarthy, ICANN’s former GM of Public Participation, the conference was attended by 173 domain industry professionals and new TLD applicants.