New top-level domains

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“For I know that God is..unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.”

Moroni 8:18

While there are some things that never change, such as the characteristics of God, almost everything else changes over time.

New top-level domain names

At the beginning of 2013, a huge change will happen to the internet.  You know .com, .org and .net domains?  Well up until now there have only been about 20 or so generic top-level domains like these.  In a year that will change- there will be hundreds of generic top-level domains (TLDs).

On January 12, 2012, people started registering for new generic top-level domains from the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).   During this application period, companies applied for new domain names for a fee of $180,000, plus $25,000 per year (if the application passes).

Those whose generic top-level domain is approved will be able to make their top-level domains- essentially their own .WHATEVER.

In 11 days- June 13, 2012- ICANN will post online a list of all of the domain names companies applied for.  For example, Nike will likely have applied for the .NIKE top-level domain.  Perhaps Google will try to buy the .G top-level domain.  Perhaps the LDS Church may apply to buy the .LDS top-level domain.  By the end of the year ICANN will have decided which TLD is approved and which is not, based upon a variety of factors (including the companies’ ability to pay for and maintain the new TLDs).

New TLDs will begin to go live at the beginning of 2013.  Owners of the TLDs will be able to rent out domain name space to people who want the same ending domain address.  For example, I may consider buying the domain name SCRIPTURE.NEWS, from the owners of the new .NEWS domain name.

After the big reveal day on June 13th, the public will be able to comment on any of the applied-for top-level domain names.  THe comment period will last for 60 days.  This will be an opportunity for you to stand against evil TLDs, such as .PORN and .SEX.

While no one’s quite sure how the internet landscape will change, starting 2013, it may take a little more effort to remember your favorite companies’ websites.  They may no longer be hosted at the common .COM, .NET and .ORG TLDs.

In the meantime, consider checking out this list of existing internet top-level domains, and following ICANN for any news regarding the new TLD process.

“This is a historic moment in the evolution of the Internet … We have invested a significant amount of time and resources to developing intelligent, responsible, secure and thorough proposals for what could serve as the foundation for this new era on the Internet.”

- Bhavin Turakhia

Personal Notes:  How exciting!  It seems many of the best domain names have already been taken for .ORG .NET and .COM.  While I don’t think every new TLD will become popular, I do think there will be several new TLDs that will catch on.  The change may not be immediate, but I think it will happen.  When my brother told me about the TLD sale, he thought it’d be cool to buy the .KIDS domain, where you could go to find all children-appropriate websites.  So he looked into it, but gave up when he realized there were at least four other companies applying for that domain name already.