ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom will be one of the participants of a meeting with the governments happening in Brussels end of February to try and launch the new gTLD program as soon as possible.

ICANN has confirmed the dates for a highly anticipated meeting between its Board and the government representatives of its Governmental Advisory Committee. The meeting will happen in Brussels on Feb 28 and March 1.

Although the meeting will be open to observers and scribed, only Board and GAC members will be allowed to speak.

As Chair of one of ICANN's supporting organisations, the GNSO, I regret the decision not to solicit feedback from our group and from others. There would have been time in the run-up to this meeting for the GNSO to consult with its constituencies and stakeholder groups and, at the very least, prepare a statement.

The meeting is crucial as it aims to identify the remaining differences of opinion between the Board and the GAC on the best way to come to resolution on the new gTLD program.

If, at the end of the meeting, such differences remain, ICANN's bylaws may impose a further round of consultation with the GAC. This would undoubtedly prevent the program from being launched at the next ICANN international meeting, in San Francisco (March 13 to 18).

Read the Brussels meeting announcement here.