ICANN Approves “Retirement” Policy for ccTLDs

Domain Incite is reporting on the latest developments from ICANN 75 in Kuala Lampur. They are reporting the approval of a ccNSO (Country Code Name Supporting Organization) Retirement policy for sunsetting obsolete or unused ccTLDs. The framework as proposed would remove the TLD from the ISO-3166-1 Alpha-2 standard, which defines which two-letter strings are reserved for which countries. The strings would be removed in the instance of a country changing its name (such as Timor-Leste) or breaking up into smaller countries (Sudan and South Sudan). The framework as adopted would see the string removed over a period of five years, although ICANN has indicated flexibility if it agrees to a registry request for extension of that period.