In the week since the Gandi.net-sponsored report on ICANN’s proposed program to expand the number of gTLDs hit the streets, the debate over the value of the plan has been actively debated.  We noted, in this space last week, that some voices in support of the new extensions has begun to emerge.

Despite the potential for balance, too many voices in the blogosphere continue to dismiss the who exercise as “confusing to consumers.” The biggest problem this argument has in carrying the day is that hardly anyone has asked the market — except, of course, the Gandi.net interviewers and our own pre-order program.  As reported, about 10,000 names a day were pre-ordered in the first month of the program.

ICANN’s meeting in Sydney begins next week with the gTLD program front-and-center (along with, perhaps, the introduction of the organizations new president).  Perhaps when everyone is in the same place at the same time some sanity can be imposed.