Kurt Pritz gets up to talk about the status of new sTLDs (sponsored top level domains -- current examples are .aero, .coop, and .museum).  They've received ten applications (including .xxx and .tel), and have had them reviewed by outside reviewers.  Two of these have moved right into negotiation -- .travel and .post.

The remaining eight are going through lots of commentary.  Of course, none of them has been formally rejected.  [No applications are ever formally rejected.  Even the applicants from September 2000 are supposedly still live. ed.]

When this process ends, someday, ICANN will publish results so as to "inform the implementation of the strategy for the formation of new gTLDs."

We really really need a predictable, "thin," objective process for new TLDs.  ICANN should be opening 10 a year, or more.  Some will fail.  We'll have a buddy system in place to protect registrants.  The existing process is very resource-intensive for ICANN and does not put the organization in the best light.