ICANN Accredits New Top-Level Domains— .biz and .info [...]

(15 May 2001) Marina del Rey, California, USA. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced today that it has finalized accreditation agreements with the new .biz and .info top-level domain (TLD) registries. This will mark the first introduction of new global top-level domains since the mid 1980s when the current domain name system became operational. These new registries will add to the already familiar registries such as .com, .org, and .edu.

"This is a momentous step forward in the continuing evolution of the Internet's domain name system," said Vint Cerf, Chairman of the ICANN Board of Directors. "However, it is just one step among many in a long process of providing consumers with the benefits of competition through a variety of domain name options and services."

Dot-info will be an unrestricted TLD, open to any business or person to register for any purpose. Dot-biz will be a restricted TLD open only for commercial or business purposes and .biz names are not intended for exclusively personal or non-commercial purposes.

Registry operators NeuLevel (.biz) and Afilias (.info) were among seven registry operators for new TLDs selected by the ICANN Board of Directors in November 2000 following an open process for submission of proposals. Agreements with the operators of .aero, .coop, .museum, .name, and .pro are expected shortly.

This first round of new TLDs is considered a "proof of concept" to test and examine different types of top-level domains, registry business models, and procedures for ensuring the technical stability of the Internet as new TLDs are added. While ICANN has been working with the new registries to ensure that the start-up phase for registration is fair and easy to understand, it is inevitable that there will be challenges.

The proof of concept will also allow for a technical assessment of the effect of the introduction of new TLDs on performance of the Internet