Ask HN: Anyone know how ICANN works? (gTLD application, 312 pages) (icann.org)

You have to read a cryptic 312 page document to get in on the new TLD domain game. What is this "ICANN" and where does all the money go when they release a new round of TLDs? Seems to me like it's all a game.

I don't think 312 pages is that long for something as big as a gTLD. I thought there'd be a lot more policy and bureaucracy for introducing new gTLDs.