<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 14px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><div>Good afternoon,</div><div><br></div><div>To ensure "Successful applications should proceed to delegation phase without undue delays", at it's simplest level can i please suggest the first question to all new gTLD applicants should be "Do you want to be in the first phase of delegation into the root zone?" </div><div><br></div><div>It is realistic to assume that some of the new gTLD applicants will want additional time <b>after</b> finding out they have passed evaluation, to finalise their domain strategy / customer experience or plan their outreach programme, before proceeding through contract execution and pre-delegation testing. Many applicants will wait until they actually get their new gTLD before investing more time and money into this part of their business plan. </div><div><br></div><div>By allowing the applicants to indicate whether they wish to move immediately into contract execution and pre-delegation testing, or delay the next steps by a timeframe (determined by ICANN), there may be a natural selection by the applicants themselves of delegation timings.</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><div>Kind regards</div><div><br></div><div><div><div><br></div><div><div>Kelly Salter</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>