Today is the first day ICANN is accepting applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs).   The Applicant Guidebook makes it clear that all new gTLDs must support DNSSEC from the start.   While the expansion of the TLD name space has been somewhat controversial, ensuring support for DNSSEC going forward has not been.

Steve Crocker, chairman of the board of ICANN, said:

The Board and the staff at ICANN have fully understood the importance of DNSSEC.  ICANN signed the root in 2010 and has advocated all top level domains be signed.  It is only natural that DNSSEC be required from the beginning for all new generic top level domains.