Country code top-level domain: Difference between revisions

{{Glossary|

|note  = This article is neutral, but is [[Sponsorship|sponsored]] by [[.CO Internet S.A.S.]],<br/> the registry operator for the [[.co]] open ccTLD.<br/>You can read more about them [http://www.cointernet.co/ here].

}}

'''Country Code Top-Level Domains''' ('''ccTLDs''') are two-letter Internet top-level domains ([[TLD]]s) specifically designated for a particular country, sovereign state or autonomous territory for use to service their community. ccTLDs are derived from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2 ISO 3166-1 alpha-2] country codes.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/cctlds/ ICANN ccTLDs]</ref>

The implementation of ccTLDs was started by [[IANA]]. The delegation and creation of ccTLDs is presented within RFC 1951. In order to determine whether new ccTLDs should be added or not, the IANA follows the provisions of ISO 3166 - Maintenance Agency. More information related to the development of new ccTLDs can be found in [http://www.iana.org/procedures/cctld-establishment.html IANA's Procedures for Establishing ccTLDs]. <ref>[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/cctld/ IANA ccTLD]</ref>

Within its database, [[IANA]] contains authoritative information related to ccTLDs, referring to sponsoring organizations, technical and administrative contacts, name servers, registration [[URL]]s and other such information. This type of information provides extra details regarding the [[IANA]]'s procedures for maintaining the ccTLD database.

Conceptually speaking, the delegation and redelegation processes are simple, but can easily become complex if there are many organizations and individuals involved in the process. There is a set of steps that must be followed before sending the request for delegation or redelegation. An initial request should be developed based on ''The Change Request Template'' and supplementary information to prove that the eligibility criteria has been met by the initial request. All the information supplied is used by IANA to fortify the request received.<ref name="guide">[http://www.iana.org/domains/root/delegation-guide/ Delegation and Redelegation Guide]</ref>

Starting in 2000, [[ICANN]] started cooperating with ccTLD managers to document their relationship. Due to various circumstances such as: the type of organization, cultural issues, economics, the legal environment, etc., the relationships between [[ICANN]] and ccTLD mangers are often complex. Another consideration is the role of the national government in "managing or establishing policy for their own ccTLD" (role recognized in the June 1998, U.S. Government [[White Paper]]).<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/cctlds/ ICANN ccTLDs]</ref>

In 2009, [[ICANN]] began the implementation of an [[IDN]] ccTLD Fast Track Process,<ref>[http://www.idnnews.com/?p=9433 IDN News]</ref> whereby countries that use non-Latin script are able to claim ccTLDs in their native script and the corresponding Latin version. As of early 2011, 33 requests have been received, representing 22 languages.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/idn/fast-track/ ICANN]</ref> More than half have already been approved.<ref>[http://www.ausregistry.com/blog/?p=342 AUSRegistry]</ref>

An '''open ccTLD''' refers to a country code top level domain name that can be registered by anyone, regardless of which country the person resides in. These ccTLDs generally  represent a particular branding aside from the name of the country or territory it represents. Examples include [[.cc]] (Cocos Island) for consulting companies, [[.tv]] (Tuvalu) for television, [[.ws]] (Western Samoa) for websites, and [[.co]] (Colombia) as an alternative to [[.com]] for companies.<ref>[http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/archived_content/people/edelman/open-cctlds/ Registrations in Open ccTLDs]</ref>

===.cc and .tv===

[[TodayISP.com]], one of the registrars offering .cc, describes the ccTLD as a new international domain name having the same features of the [[.com]] and [[.net]], as it is understood by users as an acronym for commercial company, it offers potential business value, and is becoming the latest fashion in domain names, making its value increase.<ref>[http://www.todayisp.com/domain/intro_cc.net What Is .CC Domain?]</ref>

The Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Communication assigned the management of the .co ccTLD registry to the [[.co Internet|.CO Internet SAS]], a joint venture between [[Arcelandia SA]] and [[Neustar]], Inc. Since its launch in February 2010, the .co ccTLD has been marketed by .co Internet as a "new, flexible, and safe global extension" for internet users worldwide.<ref>[http://www.cointernet.co/sites/default/files/documents/World-Trademark-Review-Update-.co-extension-is-launched.pdf '.co' extension is launched]</ref>

 

 

 

===.fm and .am===

The [[.fm]] and [[.am]] ccTLDs are marketed by [[BRS Media Inc.]] for use by music, radio, and social media websites. A percentage of the income from .fm registrations goes back to the government and people of the Federated States of Micronesia.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.fm Wikipedia .fm]</ref> .am has also been used in the [[Domain Hack|domain hack]] instagr.am.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.am Wikipedia .am]</ref>

 

===.ws===

The .ws ccTLD is managed and operated by [[SamoaNIC]],<ref>[http://samoanic.ws/index.dhtml samoanic.ws]</ref> and it is promoting the TLD as a shortened form of Web Site or World Site.<ref>[http://nuvi.be/allabouttlds All About TLD]</ref> The marketing strategy provides users global presence. The marketing program for .ws is carried out by [[Global Domains International Incorporated]].<ref>[http://worldsite.ws/?sponsor=idntraffic Worldsite.ws]</ref>

<tr><td>[[.ac]]</td><td>Ascension Island</td><td>[[Nic.ac]]</td><td></td></tr>

<tr><td>[[.ae]]</td><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>[[UAEnic]]</td><td></td>

<tr><td>[[.am]]</td><td>Armenia</td><td>[[ISOC.AM]] (Armenian Branch of [[ISOC]])</td><td></td>

<tr><td>[[.ax]]</td><td>Aland Islands</td><td>[[Ålands landskapsregering]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.az]]</td><td>Azerbaijan</td><td>[[IntraDNS]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.bf]]</td><td>Burkina Faso</td><td>[[ARCE]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.ec]]</td><td>Ecuador</td><td>[[NIC.EC]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.fi]]</td><td>Finland</td><td>[[FICORA]]</td><td>Limited to Finnish companies and citizens, abroad or domestic</td>  

<tr><td>[[.kp]]</td><td>Republic of Korea</td><td>[[KISA]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.lb]]</td><td>Lebanon</td><td>[[American University of Beirut Computing and Networking Services]]</td><td> Restricted to companies within Lebanon</td>  

<tr><td>[[.pr]]</td><td>Puerto Rico</td><td>[[Gauss Research Laboratory]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.sd]]</td><td>Sudan</td><td>[[ISOC]] Sudan</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.sn]]</td><td>Senegal</td><td>[[Universite Cheikh Anta Diop]] and [[NIC Senegal]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.so]]</td><td>Somalia</td><td>[[Somalia Ministry of Post and Telecommunications]]</td><td>Relaunched on Novemner 1, 2010</td>  

<tr><td>[[.sz]]</td><td>Swaziland</td><td>[[University of Swaziland Department of Computer Science]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.tg]]</td><td>Togo</td><td>[[Cafe Informatique et Telecommunications]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.tn]]</td><td>Tunisia</td><td>[[Agence Tunisienne d'Internet]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.ug]]</td><td>Uganda</td><td>[[I3C: Infinity Computers & Communications Company]]</td><td></td>  

<tr><td>[[.vn]]</td><td>Vietnam</td><td>[[Ministry of Information and Communications of Socialist Republic of Viet Nam]]</td><td></td>  

[[Category: Glossary]]