Changes

* '''infrastructure''' ([[.arpa]]), which is exclusively used to support operationally-critical infrastructural identifier spaces and it is operated by IANA.<ref>[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/# IANA Root Zone Data Base]</ref>

* '''infrastructure''' ([[.arpa]]), which is exclusively used to support operationally-critical infrastructural identifier spaces and it is operated by IANA.<ref>[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/# IANA Root Zone Data Base]</ref>

The gTLDs are managed and operated by their sponsor organizations and or registry operators that were approved by the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers]].

The gTLDs are managed and operated either by their sponsoring organization and or a registry operator approved by [[ICANN]].

==Background==

==Background==

In 1984, [[Jon Postel]] and [[Joyce Reynolds]] published RFC 920 which proposed the introduction of top level domain names (TLDs) in the root zone of the internet. RFC 920 also described the categories and general purposes of the initial TLDs which include: .arpa, (temporary and intended for the transition from [[ARPA]] to Internet) .gov (government) .edu, (education) .com, (commercial) .mil (military) .org (organization) and the two-letter code (alpha-2) of the [[ISO]]-3166-1 list which represents the names of countries.<ref>[http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920]</ref> On January 1985, the initial TLDs including .net were implemented in the root zone of the internet. The .gov and .mil gTLDs were restricted for the United States government and military use only while .edu, .com, .org and .net are open for registration. In 1988, the [[.int]] was introduced by IANA for international organizations established by treaties.<ref>[http://www.iana.org/reports/2001/aero-report-19dec01.html IANA Report]</ref>

In 1984, [[Jon Postel]] and [[Joyce Reynolds]] published RFC 920, which proposed the introduction of top level domain names (TLDs) in the root zone of the Internet. RFC 920 also described the categories and general purposes of the suggested initial TLDs, which were: .arpa (temporary and intended for the transition from [[ARPANET]] to the Internet), .gov (government), .edu (education), .com (commercial), .mil (military), .org (organization), and the two-letter codes (alpha-2) for countries listed in the [[ISO]]-3166-1.<ref>[http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920]</ref> On January 1985, these initial TLDs, plus .net, were implemented in the root zone. The .gov and .mil gTLDs were restricted for the United States government and military use only, while .edu, .com, .org and .net were open for registration. In 1988, [[.int]] was introduced by IANA for international organizations established by treaties.<ref>[http://www.iana.org/reports/2001/aero-report-19dec01.html IANA Report]</ref>

The original TLDs were managed and administered by the [[NIC|Network Information Center]], the first assigned registrar responsible in hosting and registering the domain names. NIC was operated by [[SRI International]].<ref>

The original TLDs were managed and administered by the [[NIC|Network Information Center]], the first assigned registrar responsible for hosting and registering domain names. NIC was operated by [[SRI International]].<ref>[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI's Role in Assigning Top-Level Domain Names and Managing the Network Information Center]</ref>

[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI's Role in Assigning Top-Level Domain Names and Managing the Network Information Center]</ref>

In 1994, Postel released RFC 1591 which explained the entire structure of the DNS and specified that the original TLDs (.com, .edu, .gov .mil, .net, .org and .int) are categorized as generic top level domains (gTLDs) and the two-letter country codes from ISO-3166 list. It was mentioned in the [[RFC]] that introduction of new TLDs will be unlikely.<ref>[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1591 RFC 1591]</ref>

In 1994, Postel released RFC 1591, which explained the entire structure of the DNS and specified that the original TLDs (.com, .edu, .gov .mil, .net, .org and .int) were categorized as generic top level domains (gTLDs) and the two-letter country codes from ISO-3166 list. It was mentioned in the [[RFC]] that the introduction of new TLDs would be unlikely.<ref>[http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1591 RFC 1591]</ref>

On July 1, 1997, President [[Bill Clinton]] instructed the Department of Commerce to improve the operations of the internet by transferring the technical management of the DNS to a private organization that will be responsible in increasing competition and encouraging international participation. The directive was part of the Clinton Administration's Framework for Global Electronic Commerce.  The following day, a Request For Comment ([[RFC]]) was released by the National Telecommunication Information Administration ([[NTIA]]) to the public to submit their comments and recommendations on the government plan. The NTIA received 430 comments from the internet community. On January 30, 1998, the [[Green Paper]] was released under which, majority of the internet community expressed their dissatisfaction of the management of the DNS and preferred a new private organization to handle the technical management of the DNS. The internet community also recommended the creation of new gTLDs. Based on the Green Paper, the new corporation should maintain stability, competition, private bottom-up coordination, and representation as the guiding principles for the new corporation.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/1998/improvement-technical-management-internet-names-and-addresses-proposed- Improvement of Technical Management of Internet Names and Addresses; Proposed Rule]</ref>

On July 1, 1997, President [[Bill Clinton]] instructed the Department of Commerce to improve the operations of the internet by transferring the technical management of the DNS to a private organization that will be responsible in increasing competition and encouraging international participation. The directive was part of the Clinton Administration's Framework for Global Electronic Commerce.  The following day, a Request For Comment ([[RFC]]) was released by the National Telecommunication Information Administration ([[NTIA]]) to the public to submit their comments and recommendations on the government plan. The NTIA received 430 comments from the internet community. On January 30, 1998, the [[Green Paper]] was released under which, majority of the internet community expressed their dissatisfaction of the management of the DNS and preferred a new private organization to handle the technical management of the DNS. The internet community also recommended the creation of new gTLDs. Based on the Green Paper, the new corporation should maintain stability, competition, private bottom-up coordination, and representation as the guiding principles for the new corporation.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/1998/improvement-technical-management-internet-names-and-addresses-proposed- Improvement of Technical Management of Internet Names and Addresses; Proposed Rule]</ref>