Changes

==History==

==History==

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 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>

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 in hosting and registering the 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 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 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>

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 recommended the creation of new private organization that to handle the technical management of the DNS as well as 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 recommended the creation of new private organization that to handle the technical management of the DNS as well as 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>

By April of 1998, the [[White Paper]] was released by the Department of Commerce which calls for the creation of a new independent private non profit corporation to takeover the technical management of the DNS from the U.S. government.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/white-paper-05jun98.htm Management of Internet Names and Addresses]</ref> Subsequently, the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Named and Numbers]] was created by the internet community on October 1998.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/domainname/proposals/icann/icann.html Proposal for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)]</ref>

By April of 1998, the [[White Paper]] was released by the Department of Commerce which calls for the creation of a new independent private non profit corporation to takeover the technical management of the DNS from the U.S. government.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/general/white-paper-05jun98.htm Management of Internet Names and Addresses]</ref> Subsequently, the [[ICANN|Internet Corporation for Assigned Named and Numbers]] was created by the internet community on October 1998.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/ntiahome/domainname/proposals/icann/icann.html Proposal for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)]</ref>

on April 2000, the Domain Names Supporting Organization ([[DNSO]]) recommended to the ICANN Board to establish a policy for the introduction of new gTLDs. In addition, the DNSO also suggested to invite interested entities to submit their expressions of interest to become registry operators of new gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.dnso.org/dnso/notes/20000419.NCgtlds-statement.html DNSO Names Council Statement on new gTLDs]</ref> [http://www.icann.org/en/meetings/yokohama/new-tld-topic.htm#II ICANN Yokohama Meeting Topic: Introduction of New Top-Level Domains]</ref>  

On April 2000, the Domain Names Supporting Organization ([[DNSO]]) recommended to the ICANN Board to establish a policy for the introduction of new gTLDs. In addition, the DNSO also suggested to invite interested entities to submit their expressions of interest to become registry operators of new gTLDs.<ref>[http://www.dnso.org/dnso/notes/20000419.NCgtlds-statement.html DNSO Names Council Statement on new gTLDs]</ref> [http://www.icann.org/en/meetings/yokohama/new-tld-topic.htm#II ICANN Yokohama Meeting Topic: Introduction of New Top-Level Domains]</ref>  

Thousands of comments regarding the introduction of new gTLDs were received by the [[ICANN Board]] through the ICANN Public Comment Forum.<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/newtlds/ Introduction of New Top-Level Domains]</ref> Following the result of the public comment, the ICANN Board decided to establish a policy for the introduction of new gTLDs. The ICANN Board set up a schedule for the submissio, acceptance and evaluation of proposals to operate or sponsor a new gTLD and a non-refundable application fee of $50,000.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-16jul00.htm#00.47 Regular Meeting of the Board Minutes-New Top Level Domains]</ref> On August 15, 2000, the ICANN Board issued the Criteria for Assessing the TLD Proposals which include:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/tld-criteria-15aug00.htm Criteria for Assessing the TLD Proposals]</ref>

Thousands of comments regarding the introduction of new gTLDs were received by the [[ICANN Board]] through the ICANN Public Comment Forum.<ref>[http://forum.icann.org/newtlds/ Introduction of New Top-Level Domains]</ref> Following the result of the public comment, the ICANN Board decided to establish a policy for the introduction of new gTLDs. The ICANN Board set up a schedule for the submissio, acceptance and evaluation of proposals to operate or sponsor a new gTLD and a non-refundable application fee of $50,000.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/minutes-16jul00.htm#00.47 Regular Meeting of the Board Minutes-New Top Level Domains]</ref>

 

On August 15, 2000, the ICANN Board issued the Criteria for Assessing the TLD Proposals which include:<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/tlds/tld-criteria-15aug00.htm Criteria for Assessing the TLD Proposals]</ref>

* The need to maintain the Internet's stability.

* The need to maintain the Internet's stability.

* The extent to which selection of the proposal would lead to an effective "proof of concept" concerning the introduction of top-level domains in the future.

* The extent to which selection of the proposal would lead to an effective "proof of concept" concerning the introduction of top-level domains in the future.