Re: New top level domains for nations (not countries)

[avc@netnamesusa.com (Antony Van Couvering)]

Alfred,

The top-level domains are assigned to applicants by the Internet Assigned
Number Authority (IANA).  The countries and territories to which IANA *can*
assign domains are based ISO-3166 list, promulgated and maintained by the
International Standards Organization, a United Nations organization based
in Geneva.

There have been some people unhappy with the list.  I have spoken to people
in Scotland, Wales and other territories (such as Catalonia, as you
mention) who have been interested in setting up a "national" top-level domain.

I am not aware of the process for changing the ISO-3166 list.  As you can
imagine, the composition of this list is politically charged.  For
instance, the Indonesian government is none too pleased that East Timor has
its own top-level domain.

I suggest that a first step in finding out about this is to contact IANA
(http://www.iana.org), and the ISO (I have no contact information for them,
but as someone with contacts the U.N., you might).

Best of luck.  I would be very interested if you could keep me informed
about your search.

Regards,

Antony Van Couvering


At 11:57 PM 7/10/97 +0200, Alfredo E. Cotroneo wrote:
>Dear Sir,
>
>I represent a non profit organization associated to Dept. of Public
>Information of the United Nations, active in reporting human rights
>violations on an international basis, using all media at our disposal, and
>particulrly via International radio and the Internet.
>
>We have been approached by an organization representing a large nation
>(i.e. an aggregation of persons of the same ethnic family, speaking the
>same language, but not being represented by a particular government) who
>would like to make steps to request the registration of a top level domain
>which would both qualify them as members of their nation, and at the same
>time make a clear distinction from the top level country domain of the
>country they live in. As far as we know, no steps have been taken yet to
>qualify any nation of this kind with a top level domain.
>
>At this time I have not been authorized to reveal the name of such nation,
>and the organization who would represent their interest. However you may
>think that, i.e., a nation like Catalunia (the region with Capital
>Barcelona, Spain); Padania in Northern Italy; the Ladini people's land
>across boundaries of Switzerland, Italy and Austria; the Indian nation(s)
>of America may want to apply for their own nation's top level domain.
>
>I would be very grateful if you could provide information on whether such
>possibility of registering DNS Top Level Domains for nations has been
>already considered at any standardisation level, and or to whom we may
>further apply. Our contacts are ready to appeal to the higher international
>bodies and courts, if necessary, to have their rights honored and granted.
>
>I thank you very much in advance for any information that you may provide.
>
>With best regards from Milano, Italy,
>
>Yours Sincerely,
>
>
>Alfredo E. Cotroneo
>President
>NEXUS-IBA, Milan
>(A non profit organization associated to Dept. of Public Information of the
>United Nations)
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>Alfredo E. Cotroneo, President,  NEXUS-Int'l Broadcasting Association
>PO Box 11028, 20110, Milano, Italy           email: alfredo@nexus.org 
>ph: +39-335-214-614 (try first)/ +39-2-266-6971  fax: +39-2-706-38151
>
>
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Antony Van Couvering | avc@netnamesusa.com
NETNAMES USA - International Domain Name Registry
430 West 14th St., Suite 401 New York, NY 10014 USA
Phone Toll-free 888-NETNAMES | Intl: +1 212 627-4599 
Fax +1 212 627-5744 | http://www.netnamesusa.com
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