I've heard this idea before from certain ICANN staffers that we need to tie the new gTLD process to the IDN process. The best ratiionale I can get from them is that to allow ASCII applications to precede IDN applications would somehow be discriminatory or unfair. I don't see that argument at all. Given ICANN's history on new gTLDs, it sounds like a convenient reason to delay again. For my part, I think ICANN should launch the new gTLD process as soon as it is ready. If it includes the ability to request IDN-based gTLDs, then we can all shout "hooray" in the many languages of the world. If not, their time will follow soon. -- Bret