The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is putting out the call for fellowship program applications for its 32nd International Public Meeting to be held in Paris from 22-27 June 2008.

“The fellowship program plays a key role in making sure that global voices are heard at the ICANN meeting and in our various public forums,” said Theresa Swinehart, ICANN’s Vice President, Global and Strategic Partnerships.

The 23 fellows from 22 countries who played an active role at the Los Angeles meeting were chosen from 167 applications received. An additional 10 candidates chosen in this round were deferred to the New Delhi meeting in February. Of the fellows at the Los Angeles meeting, 10 had never attended an ICANN meeting before, and seven were alumni from the inaugural program in San Juan this past June.

Priority is given to applicants who are current residents of developing and least developed nations and interested in participating in ICANN and its supporting organizations, such as the Governmental Advisory Committee, the Country Code Names Supporting Organization, and the Generic Names Supporting Organization. The fellowship will assist in covering airfare, hotel and a stipend. Recipients will be expected to actively participate in and contribute to ICANN processes. As always, registration for ICANN’s meetings is free for anyone wanting to attend.

Applications will be accepted from now until 1200 PDT ( UTC -7) on 11 January 2008. More information, as well as a link to the application for a fellowship, is available online at: http://www.icann.org/fellowships/