View source for TAS

The '''TLD Application System (TAS)''' is the official online application system implemented by the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]] for the new [[gTLD]] program. Applicants are required  to complete the registration on the system to be able to submit and manage their applications. The TAS registration is the first step in the application process and it is open from January 12 to March 29, 2012. Applicants need to follow three steps which include: filling out an applicant profile, legal review and payment of a non-refundable deposit of $US 5000. Access to TAS will not be granted until the deposit is confirmed by ICANN. The TAS will send e-mail updates and notifications to the applicants and they can also track the progress of every application they submitted.<ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/tas The TLD Application System Overview]</ref>

According to ICANN senior vice president Kurt Pritz, every TAS account can store as much as 50 applications. As of February 13, 2012, he reported that there were already 100 applicants for new gTLD. <ref>[http://domainincite.com/icann-has-100-new-gtld-applicants/ ICANN has 100 new gTLD applicants]</ref>

==Reports on Technical Failures==
[[FairWinds Partners]] reported that some applicants encountered technical failures using the TLD Application System and were not able to complete the profile registration. TAS was un-functional for two days. To resolve the issue, ICANN announced that there will be a schedule TAS systems maintenance during Sunday mornings from 12:00 midnight to 2:00 in the morning UTC. <ref>[http://www.business2community.com/tech-gadgets/icann-word-on-the-street-0126782 ICANN: Word on the Street…]</ref> The complete schedule for TAS maintenance is available [http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-13jan12-en '''here''']

On February 2, [[Jeff Neuman]] and [[Ken Hanson]] executives from [[Neustar]] tweeted that their applications were missing on TAS. Neumann's tweeted, “Check your applications in TAS. Reports of missing applications- Our application 4 .Neustar is 1 of them. TAS also lost our “unique” ID which we got upon paying initial 5k. We need ID to pay remainder, fill out app & see all apps.”<ref>
[http://www.thedomains.com/2012/02/02/reports-say-icanns-new-gtld-tas-system-is-missing-applications/ UPDATED: Reports Say ICANN’s New gTLD TAS System Is Missing Applications]</ref> ICANN explained that the system encountered a display issue, which was resolved after two hours. All data were visible and no missing information. <ref>
[http://domainincite.com/new-gtld-applications-briefly-vanish-after-glitch/ New gTLD applications briefly vanish after glitch]</ref>

On April 12, 2002, ICANN's Chief Operating Officer [[Akram Atallah]] issued a statement acknowledging that a a possible glitch in the TLD application system software caused a limited number of users saw the file names and user names of other users in some instances. He said that ICANN decided to shut down the system until April 17 to protect the data of applicants. Atallah also said that ICANN is investigating how the problem happened and necessary measures will be done to resolve the situation. <ref>
[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-3-12apr12-en.htm Statement on TLD Application System]</ref>

Following Atallah's statement, [[Kevin Murphy]] of DomainIncite reported that an applicant claimed that he noticed that a file from another applicant was attached to his application on April 6 and immediately reported the problem to ICANN. The applicant said, ''"I could infer the applicant/string… based on the name of the file."'' However the actual contents of the file was not visible. The TAS problem ignited different speculations and questions within the internet community particularly the how long will the TAS suffer from vulnerability, who among the applicants saw others applications and if some applicants took advantage of the situation and filed competing bids.<ref> 
[http://domain.incite.com/icann-knew-about-tas-security-bug-last-week/ ICANN knew about TAS security bug last week]</ref> <ref> [http://domainincite.com/its-worse-than-you-thought-tas-security-bug-leaked-new-gtld-applicant-data/ It’s worse than you thought: TAS security bug leaked new gTLD applicant data]</ref> 

ICANN also announced that TAS will be offline temporarily and the extension of the application window until April 20. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-12apr12-en.htm TAS Temporarily Offline]</ref> <ref> 
[http://domainincite.com/breaking-icann-extends-new-gtld-application-window-after-technical-glitch/ Breaking: ICANN extends new gTLD application window after technical glitch]</ref>

Apart from the extension of the application window, ICANN also informed journalists that the problem was not caused by a cyber attack, no application data were lost and the TAS system is expected to open on April 18. According to [[.Nxt|.nxt]] speculated that the situation maybe considered as a ''"[[non-denial-denial]] category and ICANN was following the second path dealing with a suspected hack."'' <ref>[http://a.sw.io/4lpYmPg Was ICANN's new gTLDs system hacked?]</ref> <ref>
[http://domainincite.com/tas-glitch-not-an-attack-says-icann/ TAS glitch “not an attack” says ICANN]</ref>

On April 14, 2012, ICANN issued another statement related to the TAS problem. The internet governing body identified that a report on March 19 was the only incident related to the technical glitch. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-14apr12-en.htm TAS Interruption - Update (14 April 2012 06:50 UTC)]</ref>

On April 23, 2012, ICANN announced that it was able to identify all applicants affected by the TAS failure and the testing to fix the system is running smoothly. In addition, it also announced the postponement of the scheduled publication of all the applied new gTLD strings on April 30. <ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/news/announcements/announcement-2-23apr12-en.htm TAS Interruption Update, April 23]</ref> Two days after, ICANN released an update informing applicants that the TAS will re-open on April 27. <ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-25apr12-en TAS Interruption - Update (25 April 2012)]</ref> ICANN continuously provides update to the internet community regarding the progress of the testing to resolve the system. On April 27, the internet governing body reported that based on its analysis there are still limited number of affected applicants and tests to improve the system is being conducted continuously. ICANN promised to continue to provide updates. <ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-27apr12-en TAS Interruption - Update (27 April 2012)]</ref> 

On May 2, 2012, ICANN reported that there were 1268 registered users and around 95,000 file attachments were available when the system went offline. It estimated 455 incidents wherein a file name and user name was possibly seen by another applicant. It also identified that most probably the file names and user names of 105 applicants were viewed by another applicant and 50 applicants possibly viewed the file names and user names of one or more applicants. ICANN assured the internet community that it is continuously working on improving the system to fix the technical problem. <ref> 
[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-02may12-en TAS Interruption - Update (2 May 2012)]</ref> On May 4, ICANN informed that it received approximately $350 million dollars application fees and the payments from 214 potential applicants that were registered before the March 29 cut off were not yet received. In addition, the internet governing body also reported that notifications were being sent to applicant informing them if they were affected by the software. The notification process is expected to be completed by May 8 and the schedule to re-open the TAS will be announced. <ref>[http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/announcements-and-media/announcement-04may12-en TAS Interruption - Update (4 May 2012)]</ref>

==ANA's Reaction to the TAS Technical Problem==
[[Dan Jaffe]], executive vice president of [[ANA]] reacted that the TAS technical problem demonstrated that the new gTLD expansion program is moving too quickly. He said, ''"It's another warning signal to go slower, and make sure you have worked out all the glitches before you roll out a new system."'' Furthermore, he emphasized that the technical glitch on the system showed that it is impossible for ICANN to adequately police the new domain names and any sizable increase of TLDs will result to the proliferation of cybersquatting, phishing and impostor websites. He warned that if the internet will be undermined, it will result to a very unfavorable effect. <ref>
[http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/172599/icann-data-breach-stokes-domain-name-concerns.html ICANN Data Breach Stokes Domain Name Concerns]</ref>

Furthermore, ANA's president Bob Liodice issued a press release requesting the Department of Commerce ([[DOC]]) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ([[NTIA]]) to urge ICANN to hire an independent IT expert to investigate the TAS technical problem. <ref>
[http://domainincite.com/ana-demands-tas-bug-probe/ ANA demands TAS bug probe]</ref>

==References==
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[[Category:Glossary]]