“Network Solutions (NSOL) said today that it supports the
creation of two new generic top-level Internet domains to relieve
the crush of domain name registrations in the overcrowded .com,
.net and .org top-level domains.”
“NSI sent a position paper to the Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers, the nonprofit entity charged with
technical administration of the Internet. The paper recommends
that one new domain, “.shop,” be created and opened to all
registrants, and that a second, “chartered” domain, “.banc,” be
created specifically for use by banks and other financial
institutions. Furthermore, it calls for a new central registry
for each of the two new domains, suggesting that the “.shop”
registry be located in Europe and collectively managed by the
dozens of ICANN-accredited domain name registrars, including NSI.
For “.banc,” NSI recommends that a “core group” of global banking
industry representatives be appointed as registry gatekeepers.”
“”NSI believes that the competitive marketplace will benefit
from the new [top-level domains],” wrote Roger Cochetti, a company
executive. He urged ICANN to designate two new “proof of concept”
top-level domains right away to avoid “months or even years spent
in further analysis, debate about abstract criteria, and lengthy,
complex and contentious procedures and negotiations.””