.boston

Status:	Delegated
country:	Boston, USA
Registry Provider:	OpenRegistry
Registry:	Registry Services, LLC
Registry Backend:	GoDaddy
Type:	Open
Website:	hub.boston
Priority #:	1064

.boston is a geographical TLD proposed in ICANN's New gTLD Program. The applicant is the Boston Globe.

Intended Use

.boston is a new geographic top-level domain targeted to Bostonians, and Boston-associated businesses and brands. There are no nexus requirements to register a .boston domain name.

Delegation Status

.boston was delegated on November 29, 2016, and entered into GA on October 10, 2017.

Application Details

The following is excerpted fromt eh applicant's response to question #18:

"The .BOSTON TLD aims to become a new on line identity for the city of Boston, its inhabitants, companies, organizations and institutions, managed and supervised by The Boston Globe.

Given the fact that The Boston Globe (owned by Globe Newspaper Company, Inc.) has always been a major supporter of any activities being organized by or within the city of Boston, and provides up-to-date information to Bostonians and the world under its boston.com Web site, the city of Boston has provided a letter of support to TBG for the .BOSTON initiative. TBG?s Web sites currently receive more than 7 million unique visitors per year, and have been in operation since 1995.

Notable Users

The city of Boston is the capital of and the largest city in the state of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The city of Boston has a population of close to 620,000; however, the substantially larger metropolitan area called Greater Boston is considered to be the tenth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a population of around 4,5 million.

Given the fact that TBG will not impose any eligibility restrictions in the policies that will govern the .BOSTON gTLD -- which decision has the support from the City of Boston -- anyone who would like to register domain names in the .BOSTON extension will be entitled to do so.

Furthermore, the decision to also allow individuals, organizations and companies that are not residing in or are established in Boston to register domain names in .BOSTON furthermore radiates the accessible and welcoming attitude of the City of Boston and Bostonians. TBG and the City of Boston are convinced that ? given the specific character of the .BOSTON TLD and its unique link to the City of Boston and the Greater Boston Area ? this extension will mainly attract people who have a certain affinity with this city and region.

These may include people who will soon be moving to Boston, open a business in the City, etc. Giving the fact that innovation undisputedly forms part of the DNA of Boston, TBG and the City of Boston opted not to have any restrictions as regards the eligibility for a domain name registration, hence potentially stifling future uses of the .BOSTON TLD."