Changes

The .com gTLD, along with the other original TLDs, was first administered by the United States Department of Defense under the [[DARPA|Defense Advance Advance Research Project Agency]], which was first implemented in 1985. The [[NIC|Network Information Center]], which was run by [[SRI International]], was the first assigned registrar and administrator of the first domain names.<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920], RFC-Editor.org.</ref> NIC was responsible for registering and hosting the domain names,<ref>[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI International]</ref> as well as administering the [[IP Address|IP addresses]].<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1020.txt RFC 1020], RFC-Editor.org.</ref>  

The .com gTLD, along with the other original TLDs, was first administered by the United States Department of Defense under the [[DARPA|Defense Advance Advance Research Project Agency]], which was first implemented in 1985. The [[NIC|Network Information Center]], which was run by [[SRI International]], was the first assigned registrar and administrator of the first domain names.<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc920.txt RFC 920], RFC-Editor.org.</ref> NIC was responsible for registering and hosting the domain names,<ref>[http://www.sri.com/about/timeline/tld-nic.html SRI International]</ref> as well as administering the [[IP Address|IP addresses]].<ref>[http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1020.txt RFC 1020], RFC-Editor.org.</ref>  

On October 1, 1991, the administration of the .com and all the TLDs was transfered to [[GSI|Government Systems, Inc.]].<ref name="rfc1261">[http://www.armware.dk/RFC/rfc/rfc1261.html RFC 1261], ArmWare.dk.</ref> It assumed all of SRI's service responsibilities, such as domain name registration, online informations services and help desk operations, as well as [[RFC]] and Internet-Draft archive and distribution services. The Internet registration services were provided by Defense Information System Agency (DISA) NIC, which was also operated by Government Systems Inc.<ref name="rfc1261"></ref> This task was sub-contracted by GSI to [[Network Solutions]] (NSI).

On October 1, 1991, the administration of the .com and all the TLDs was transferred to [[GSI|Government Systems, Inc.]].<ref name="rfc1261">[http://www.armware.dk/RFC/rfc/rfc1261.html RFC 1261], ArmWare.dk.</ref> It assumed all of SRI's service responsibilities, such as domain name registration, online information services, and help desk operations, as well as [[RFC]] and Internet-Draft archive and distribution services. The Internet registration services were provided by [[Defense Information Systems Agency]] (DISA) NIC, which was also operated by Government Systems Inc.<ref name="rfc1261"></ref> This task was sub-contracted by GSI to [[Network Solutions]] (NSI).

The legislation of the Scientific and Advanced Technology Act in 1992 gave an expanded mandate to the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]] (NSF). This is a statutory body, which supports and strengthens basic scientific research, engineering, and educational activities in the United States, including the maintenance of computer networks used to connect research and educational institutions. It assumed the responsibility of coordinating and funding the management of the non-military portion of Internet infrastructure, pursuant to the High-Performance Computing Act which was legislated on December 9, 1991.  

The legislation of the Scientific and Advanced Technology Act in 1992 gave an expanded mandate to the [[NSF|National Science Foundation]] (NSF). This is a statutory body, which supports and strengthens basic scientific research, engineering, and educational activities in the United States, including the maintenance of computer networks, used to connect research and educational institutions. It assumed the responsibility of coordinating and funding the management of the non-military portion of Internet infrastructure, pursuant to the High-Performance Computing Act which was legislated on December 9, 1991.  

In 1993, NSF and NSI entered a five-year cooperative agreement, which appointed NSI as the sole provider of domain name registrations for the .com, [[.net]], and [[.org]] gTLDs.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010301153634/http://networksolutions.com/en_US/legal/internic/cooperative-agreement/agreement.html NSI-NSF Cooperative Agreement], Archive.org.</ref> In 2000, Network Solutions was acquired by [[Verisign]],<ref>[http://about-networksolutions.com/corporate-history.php Network Solutions History], NetworkSoutions.com.</ref> which retained NSI's registry business.  

In 1993, NSF and NSI entered a five-year cooperative agreement, which appointed NSI as the sole provider of domain name registrations for the .com, [[.net]], and [[.org]] gTLDs.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010301153634/http://networksolutions.com/en_US/legal/internic/cooperative-agreement/agreement.html NSI-NSF Cooperative Agreement], Archive.org.</ref> In 2000, Network Solutions was acquired by [[Verisign]],<ref>[http://about-networksolutions.com/corporate-history.php Network Solutions History], NetworkSoutions.com.</ref> which retained NSI's registry business.  

===25 Years of .com===

===25 Years of .com===

An informational video on the growth of the Internet since .com was introduced, produced in 2010:

An informational video on the growth of the Internet since .com was introduced, produced in 2010:

<videoflash type="vimeo">12430383</videoflash>

{{#ev:vimeo|12430383}}

<br>

<br>

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

Verisign had a number of events, forums, contests and awards planned for the 25th anniversary of .com in 2010. These included awards to 25 people and companies recognized for influencing the .com namespace and the Internet as a whole, and a Washington D.C.-based Policy Impact Forum featuring [[Bill Clinton]], [[Rod Beckstrom]], Arianna Huffington, [[Ken Silva]], and others. Verisign unveiled details for four $75,000 research grants at its San Francisco event, which also featured then CEO [[Mark McLaughlin]]  and ICANN Chairman [[Peter Dengate Thrush]].<ref>[http://www.25yearsof.com/ 25yearsof.com]</ref>

===Renewals===

===Registry Agreement===

The dropping of the aforementioned litigation between Verisign and ICANN cleared the way for the renewal of the [[.com]] registry agreement from 2005 through 2012.<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/25/verisign_icann_deal/ Verisign ICANN deal], TheRegister.co.uk. Puhed 25 October 2005.</ref> The agreement and its appendices can be viewed via the ICANN site [http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/com here].

The dropping of the aforementioned litigation between Verisign and ICANN cleared the way for the renewal of the [[.com]] registry agreement from 2005 through 2012.<ref>[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/10/25/verisign_icann_deal/ Verisign ICANN deal], TheRegister.co.uk. Puhed 25 October 2005.</ref> The agreement and its appendices can be viewed via the ICANN site [http://www.icann.org/en/about/agreements/registries/com here].

==References==

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}</div>

[[Category: TLD]]

[[Category: TLD]]