What if a city does not turn in an “Expression of Interest” to ICANN by the application due date?
The “Expression of Interest” procedure has not been finalized by ICANN’s Board of Directors. If it is approved in its present form (see http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-2-18dec09-en.htm), then cities (or applicants with a city’s support of non-objection) must submit an Expression of Interest in order to be able to apply for a top-level domain.