ICANN has published final Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) guidelines in advance of the commencement of the CPE. CPE is a method for resolving string contention in generic top-level domain (gTLD) applications, as described in section 4.2 of the gTLD applicant guidebook (June 2012), which is to be used where the subject of a community gTLD application is in contention and the applicant elects to seek CPE. The guidelines are intended to ensure quality, consistency and transparency in the evaluation process. They will accompany the guidebook, and are intended to provide additional clarity around the process and scoring principles outlined within it. ICANN states that the guidelines do not modify the framework or standards laid out in the guidebook. It intends to send CPE invitations to eligible applicants from the week commencing 30 September 2013.

Source: ICANN announcement, 27 September 2013.