The GNSO is seeking volunteers from the community to serve on the Standing Predictability Implementation Review Team (SPIRT). The SPIRT is a body that is convened by and subject to the oversight of the GNSO Council, in accordance with the SPIRT Charter. Its purpose is to provide input to the GNSO Council, the ICANN Board, ICANN org, and the ICANN community on issues and necessary changes that may arise in the New gTLD Program following the approval of the Applicant Guidebook (AGB).
To apply, please contact the gnso-secs@icann.org. The deadline for application is Friday, 17 October 2025 at 23:59 UTC. Please see details below.
Scope of Work
In coordination with the GNSO Council, the SPIRT will collaborate with ICANN org to address all non-minor changes during the Program by using the Predictability Framework. Details of its work are outlined in the Charter.
Compensation
This is a volunteer role.
Work Plan
The SPIRT is anticipated to meet on an as-needed basis, in accordance with the Charter, ideally with at least a week's notice. For scheduling purposes, the SPIRT will seek to adhere to a fixed meeting time (or rotating times if necessary) with a duration of 60 minutes. The meeting timing will be established once the SPIRT is convened. The tentative next steps and timeline are as follows:
- 17 October 2025: Volunteer application deadline
- 24 October 2025: Leadership application deadline
- 10–14 November 2025: Work commences
Who Should Join
The SPIRT is structured as an Open Model where it will be open to all parties interested in participating. The GNSO Council invites all interested parties within the community (i.e., Supporting Organizations, Advisory Committees, and GNSO's Stakeholder Groups and Constituencies) to join the SPIRT. The SPIRT may not necessarily be representative of the ICANN community, as actual participation may depend on the interest and relevance of the new gTLD process, but it is the responsibility of a SPIRT member to speak and act in a way that represents the best solution for the issues that may rise during the course of the New gTLD Program.
The GNSO Council asks that volunteers take into account the expected membership criteria for the SPIRT on the basis of, but not limited to, the Working Group Member Skills Guide. Further details regarding membership and rules of engagement are available in the SPIRT Charter.
At least half of the inaugural SPIRT members will serve three-year terms. Initial membership must include, at a minimum:
- One participant from the original Policy Development Process (PDP) Working Group
- One participant from the PDP Implementation Review Team
How to Join
Community members who wish to join the SPIRT should contact the GNSO Secretariat at gnso-secs@icann.org by Friday, 17 October 2025 at 23:59 UTC.
Additional Information
This announcement is also posted on the ICANN Website here. For more information and to better prepare for participation on the SPIRT, please read its Charter as well as the Predictability Framework.
Contact
If you have any questions, please send an email to: gnso-secs@icann.org.