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{{TLD|
{{TLD|
|logo  = .US.JPG
|logo  = .US.JPG
|manager  = [[DOC]]
|manager  = Registry Services, LLC
|country  = USA
|country  = USA
|stringcontention =  
|stringcontention =  
|registryprovider  = [[Neustar]]
|registryprovider  =  
|date  = 1985
|date  = 1985
|type  = [[ccTLD]]
|type  = [[ccTLD]]
|community  =  
|community  =  
|keypeople  =  [[Allen Gorldberg]], Corporate Communications
|keypeople  =   
}}
}}
'''.us''' is the country code top-level domain name ([[ccTLD]]) for the United States. Its operations are overseen by the Department of Commerce ([[DOC]]). DOC is also responsible for choosing an administrator for .us. Neustar is the current administrator.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/ Neustar.us]</ref>


==History==
'''.us''' is the ccTLD for the United States of America (USA). It is managed by Registry Services, LLC.<ref>[https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/us.html IANA: Delegation Record for .US]</ref> Registry Services, LLC manages the .us domain name on behalf of the [[United States Department of Commerce|U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)]].<ref name="faqs">[https://www.about.us/faqs .us About US: FAQs]</ref>
 
== History ==


.us was first established in 1985. Second level domains under .us did not become available for registration until April 2002.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/ Neustar.us]</ref>  
.us was first established in 1985. Second level domains under .us did not become available for registration until April 2002.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/ Neustar.us]</ref>  


[[Jon Postel]] was one of the original administrators for .us.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA]</ref> who at that time also served as head of the Internet Assigned Numbers and Authority ([[IANA]]). Postel delegated the management of localities within the usTLD hierarchy to individuals, organizations, and State governments.<ref> [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA]</ref> The operational guidelines drafted by the original administrators of the us TLd states that the delegated managers are "trustees for the delegated domain and have a duty to serve the community. The designated [delegated] manager is the trustee of the domain for the domain itself and the global Internet community. Concerns about “rights” and “ownership” of domains are inappropriate. It is appropriate to be concerned about “responsibilities” and “service” to the community.The delegated managers worked voluntarily without pay as they perform registry or registration operations.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA.doc.gov]</ref>
[[Jon Postel]] was one of the original administrators for .us.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA]</ref> who at that time also served as head of the Internet Assigned Numbers and Authority ([[IANA]]). Postel delegated the management of localities within the .us TLD hierarchy to individuals, organizations, and State governments.<ref> [http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA]</ref> The operational guidelines drafted by the original administrators of the .us TLD states that the delegated managers are "trustees for the delegated domain and have a duty to serve the community. The designated [delegated] manager is the trustee of the domain for the domain itself and the global Internet community. Concerns about 'rights' and 'ownership' of domains are inappropriate. It is appropriate to be concerned about 'responsibilities" and 'service' to the community." The delegated managers worked voluntarily without pay as they perform registry or registration operations.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/USfaq_022207.htm#ftn_01 NTIA.doc.gov]</ref>  
 
In 2001, the Department of Commerce through the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) awarded Neustar to serve as the administrator of the us TLD with the objective to further develop and expand the operation of the United States domain name.<ref>
[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/usTLD2007_12_G_DMContracts.pdf Neustar 2001 Delegated Manager Contracts]</ref>
The US Department of Commerce through NTIA renewed Neustar's contract to administer and manage the us TLD on October 25, 2007.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/press Neustar Press Release]</ref>
 
As of 2007, there are 1.26 million domain names under the us TLD administeres by Neustar <ref>[http://www.neustar.biz/ Neustar.biz]</ref>
which provides registry and clearinghouse services in telecommunications and Internet networks. The company projected that the US domain name will grow at an average rate of 23% per year.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/usTLD2007_08_C_Vision.pdf NTIA Document]</ref>


==Structure==
In 2001, the US Department of Commerce, through the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), awarded [[Neustar]] to serve as the administrator of the .us TLD with the objective to further develop and expand the operation of the United States' domain name.<ref>
[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/usTLD2007_12_G_DMContracts.pdf Neustar 2001 Delegated Manager Contracts]</ref> Neustar's contract was renewed on October 25, 2007.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/press Neustar Press Release]</ref> and then again in 2014 and 2019.<ref>https://www.ntia.gov/page/us-domain-space NTIA: .us Domain Space]</ref>


The basic structure of the .us TLD is as follows:
In 2020, [[Neustar]] was acquired by [[GoDaddy]].<ref>[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/godaddy-acquires-neustars-registry-business-301036134.html PR Newswire: GoDaddy Acquires Neustar's Registry Business Furthers GoDaddy's Commitment to Investing in]</ref>
<organization>.<locality>.<state>.us, where the state is represented by its two-digit postal code.


The delegated managers also known as "delegees" or "locality delegees" supervise the operations of the locality space of majority of the usTLD. Although Neustar administers an expanded a second level .us domain name, it still maintains the hierarchical locality space to provide structure, name uniqueness and geographic reference point for registrants.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/about_us Neustar.us]</ref><ref>[http://www.neustar.us/locality-based-name-registrations/ Locality-Based Name Registrations]</ref>
== Rules and Restrictions ==


Registering a locality-based domain is a multi-step process that some have found difficult to understand or follow.<ref>[http://telecafe.org/smw/.US_Locality_Domains#Registering_A_.US_Locality_Domain_Name Registering A .US Locality Domain Name]</ref>
A domain name under .us can be registered by any individual, business (big or small), blog, or organization that is a citizen of, or licensed in, the USA including federal, state and local governments. In addition, a .us domain name may be registered by foreign entities that have a bona fide interest or presence in the United States.  


==Management Framework for us TLD==
By registering a name in the .us TLD, the applicant must warrant that the registration will not be used for any illegal purposes, including without limitation, to:


The Department of Commerce and Neustar has been successful in managing and developing the usTLD because of their continuous development and implementation of unique policies and procedures to support a more certain, reliable and robust [[DNS]]. Neustar worked hand in hand with the agency in creating the us TLD management framework of us TLd based on four primary segments which include (1) legacy hierarchical  locality space (2) expanded second-level space(3) kids.us and (4) reserved names.<ref>[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/usca/usTLD2007_04_ExecSum.pdf NTIA.doc.gov]</ref>
* distributing malware or engaging in malicious hacking, bot-netting, phishing, pharming, fast flux hosting, fraudulent or deceptive practices;
* use, promote, encourage the promotion of, or distribute child abuse images or engage in the exploitation of minors in any way;
* sell or distribute pharmaceuticals;
* infringe the intellectual property rights of any other person or entity including, without limitation, counterfeiting piracy or trademark or copyright infringement;
* digitally impersonating any person or entity, or submit of information on behalf of any other person or entity, without their express prior written consent;
* violate the privacy or publicity rights of any other person or entity;
* promote or engage in any spam or other unsolicited bulk email;
* distribute software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or computer or network hacking or cracking;
* interfere with the operation of the .us TLD or services offered by the .us TLD; or
* otherwise engage in activity that is contrary to U.S. law or .us TLD Policies.<ref>[https://www.about.us/documents/policies/usTLD_Acceptable_Use_Policy.pdf .us: .us TLD Acceptable Use Policy]</ref>


===URS Implementation===
=== Locality-based Domains ===
Neustar implemented a [[Uniform Rapid Suspension]] policy for the .us domain starting in July 2014. The policy will be implemented for all existing and new .us domains, giving trademark owners a faster and cheaper way to stop infringement domains on their trademarks.<ref>[http://domainincite.com/16842-uniform-rapid-suspension-comes-to-us Uniform Rapid Suspension Comes to .us] (12 June 2014) Kevin Murphy, ''DomainIncite''; Retrieved 12 June 2014</ref>


==Nexus Requirements==
Registrations based on locality reflect the oldest part of the .us TLD domain namespace. These registrations represent the political geography of the United States based on two-letter state abbreviations and divided further into localities, including cities, counties, parishes, townships, or local names (e.g. Alexandria.va.us). In addition to geographical locality names, the .us TLD locality space also includes certain affinity names, for example, STATE, FED, K12, LIB, and NSN (Native Sovereign Nation). Locality and affinity names collectively compose the "Locality namespace."


To be able to register a .us domain name any individual should be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America while entities or organizations should incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or should be organized under the laws of the U.S. government.<ref>[http://www.neustar.us/faqs#3 Neustar.us]</ref>
The administration of the .us TLD Locality namespace is managed by entities and/or individuals called Delegated Managers. Delegated Managers follow comprehensive technical and service requirements. Individually, and as a group, Delegated Managers play a valuable role in the management of the .us TLD Locality namespace. Delegated Managers work directly with the .us TLD Administrator to maintain their .us TLD Locality delegation(s). In order to ensure common and widespread best practices among Delegated Managers for the benefit of the Locality space users, the .us TLD Delegated Manager Agreement sets forth the relative rights and responsibilities of Registry Services, as the .us TLD Administrator, and each Delegated Manager. For existing Delegated Managers, an executed .us TLD Delegated Manager agreement is required to continue delegation management services. The .us TLD Administrator currently serves as Registry, Registrar, and Delegated Manager for all undelegated third-level locality domains (i.e. all third-level locality domains that do not have an assigned Delegated Manager) and their child domains (fourth/fifth/sixth level domains).<ref name="faqs"></ref>


==.us TLD Dispute Resolution Policy==
== Dispute Resolution Policy ==


Any complaint regarding the us TLD should be filed to the approved dispute resolution service providers which include the American Arbitration Association ([[AAA]])<ref>[http://www.adr.org/about AAA]</ref>and the National Arbitration Forum ([[NAF]]).<ref>[http://www.adrforum.com/ NAF]</ref>
Complaints under the policy may be submitted to any approved dispute-resolution service provider, which are currently the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the National Arbitration Forum (NAF).<ref>[https://www.about.us/policies/dispute-providers .us: Dispute Providers]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:TLD]]
[[Category:ccTLD]]
[[Category:ccTLD]]
[[Category:USA]]

Latest revision as of 17:49, 20 November 2024

country: USA
Manager: Registry Services, LLC
Date Implemented: 1985
Type: ccTLD

More information:

.us is the ccTLD for the United States of America (USA). It is managed by Registry Services, LLC.[1] Registry Services, LLC manages the .us domain name on behalf of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC).[2]

History[edit | edit source]

.us was first established in 1985. Second level domains under .us did not become available for registration until April 2002.[3]

Jon Postel was one of the original administrators for .us.[4] who at that time also served as head of the Internet Assigned Numbers and Authority (IANA). Postel delegated the management of localities within the .us TLD hierarchy to individuals, organizations, and State governments.[5] The operational guidelines drafted by the original administrators of the .us TLD states that the delegated managers are "trustees for the delegated domain and have a duty to serve the community. The designated [delegated] manager is the trustee of the domain for the domain itself and the global Internet community. Concerns about 'rights' and 'ownership' of domains are inappropriate. It is appropriate to be concerned about 'responsibilities" and 'service' to the community." The delegated managers worked voluntarily without pay as they perform registry or registration operations.[6]

In 2001, the US Department of Commerce, through the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA), awarded Neustar to serve as the administrator of the .us TLD with the objective to further develop and expand the operation of the United States' domain name.[7] Neustar's contract was renewed on October 25, 2007.[8] and then again in 2014 and 2019.[9]

In 2020, Neustar was acquired by GoDaddy.[10]

Rules and Restrictions[edit | edit source]

A domain name under .us can be registered by any individual, business (big or small), blog, or organization that is a citizen of, or licensed in, the USA including federal, state and local governments. In addition, a .us domain name may be registered by foreign entities that have a bona fide interest or presence in the United States.

By registering a name in the .us TLD, the applicant must warrant that the registration will not be used for any illegal purposes, including without limitation, to:

  • distributing malware or engaging in malicious hacking, bot-netting, phishing, pharming, fast flux hosting, fraudulent or deceptive practices;
  • use, promote, encourage the promotion of, or distribute child abuse images or engage in the exploitation of minors in any way;
  • sell or distribute pharmaceuticals;
  • infringe the intellectual property rights of any other person or entity including, without limitation, counterfeiting piracy or trademark or copyright infringement;
  • digitally impersonating any person or entity, or submit of information on behalf of any other person or entity, without their express prior written consent;
  • violate the privacy or publicity rights of any other person or entity;
  • promote or engage in any spam or other unsolicited bulk email;
  • distribute software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software, hardware, or telecommunications equipment or computer or network hacking or cracking;
  • interfere with the operation of the .us TLD or services offered by the .us TLD; or
  • otherwise engage in activity that is contrary to U.S. law or .us TLD Policies.[11]

Locality-based Domains[edit | edit source]

Registrations based on locality reflect the oldest part of the .us TLD domain namespace. These registrations represent the political geography of the United States based on two-letter state abbreviations and divided further into localities, including cities, counties, parishes, townships, or local names (e.g. Alexandria.va.us). In addition to geographical locality names, the .us TLD locality space also includes certain affinity names, for example, STATE, FED, K12, LIB, and NSN (Native Sovereign Nation). Locality and affinity names collectively compose the "Locality namespace."

The administration of the .us TLD Locality namespace is managed by entities and/or individuals called Delegated Managers. Delegated Managers follow comprehensive technical and service requirements. Individually, and as a group, Delegated Managers play a valuable role in the management of the .us TLD Locality namespace. Delegated Managers work directly with the .us TLD Administrator to maintain their .us TLD Locality delegation(s). In order to ensure common and widespread best practices among Delegated Managers for the benefit of the Locality space users, the .us TLD Delegated Manager Agreement sets forth the relative rights and responsibilities of Registry Services, as the .us TLD Administrator, and each Delegated Manager. For existing Delegated Managers, an executed .us TLD Delegated Manager agreement is required to continue delegation management services. The .us TLD Administrator currently serves as Registry, Registrar, and Delegated Manager for all undelegated third-level locality domains (i.e. all third-level locality domains that do not have an assigned Delegated Manager) and their child domains (fourth/fifth/sixth level domains).[2]

Dispute Resolution Policy[edit | edit source]

Complaints under the policy may be submitted to any approved dispute-resolution service provider, which are currently the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and the National Arbitration Forum (NAF).[12]

References[edit | edit source]