I.
usTLD Undelegated Name Policy (Interim)
I.
Background
One
of NeuStar’s primary responsibilities for the usTLD is the enhancement
of the locality-based space in .us.The
distributed nature of this space has led, despite the good efforts of many
existing delegated managers, to an often poorly coordinated and sometimes
“broken” top-level domain.NeuStar
is committed, in partnership with existing delegated managers and users
, to improving the coordination, management and operation of the locality
space.This policy provides an interim
solution for registration of locality-based names, in formerly undelegated
domains, by state and local governments to ensure smooth operation of the
existing locality space during this undertaking.
This
diagram shows the current basic structure of the usTLD locality space.
Since
its inception, the locality space has operated through “delegated managers.”Delegated
managers take responsibility for the operation of specified zones within
the usTLD structure.These delegations
are based upon “localities,” such as cities and counties, and have been
third-level delegations in the form <locality>.<state>.us.For
example, an entity might operate as the delegated manager of the domain burke.va.us.As
the delegated manager, that entity would be fully responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the delegated domain – the usTLD Administrator maintains
no records or information for the zone created by the delegation beyond
the actual delegation to the delegated manager.
Under
the government contract between NeuStar and the Department of Commerce
(“DoC”), the existing delegated managers maintain their delegations and
will operate them in the normal fashion, but NeuStar is not permitted to
make any new delegations until it has completed a report on the status
of the locality space and made recommendations on its future operation.In
order to allow the continued operation of the space for local and state
governments during this process, NeuStar has developed this interim policy
relating to names that were never delegated to a delegated manager prior
to NeuStar’s acceptance of the usTLD Administrator role.
II.
Interim Policy
Until
completion of the “Compliance Report Process,” NeuStar will assume responsibility
for the operation of all of the currently undelegated name spaces identified
in RFC 1480 and/or created by the prior usTLD Administrator.NeuStar
will become the interim delegated manager for all such names and run the
nameservers for those names.NeuStar’s
role as the delegated manager for these spaces and its operation of the
corresponding nameservers will be an interim role until completion of the
usTLD locality space compliance report process.Upon
completion of that process, NeuStar will implement necessary changes, if
any, to this policy to realize the goals and requirements set out in the
report.Recognizing that this process
could result in a change to the manner in which the undelegated locality-based
names are managed, NeuStar has designed the policy below to allow the greatest
degree of flexibility while maintaining the integrity of the hierarchical
locality-based domain space.
III.
Domain Delegations for Undelegated Domains
In
keeping with the goal of centralizing the technical function of the usTLD,
all of the currently undelegated names in the identified usTLD structure
will, in the interim, be delegated
to NeuStar.Specifically, NeuStar
will be the delegated manager for the following domains to the extent that
they were not delegated prior to NeuStar’s acceptance of the administrator
role:
.us
<state>.us
<locality> .<state>.us
lib.<state>.us
k12. <state>.us
pvt. k12. <state>.us
cc. <state>.us
tec. <state>.us
isa.us
nsn.us
dni.us
This
approach will allow NeuStar to maintain control of the listed zone while
permitting additional records to be registered at higher delegation levels.For
example, an entity would not be permitted to be the delegated manager of
somelocality.<state>.us.That
domain already would be delegated to NeuStar.However,
the city or county government for that locality would be permitted to register
its corresponding city or county government name at a level higher (e.g.,
ci.somelocality.<state>.us or co.somelocality.<state>.us).
IV.
Registration of Names
NeuStar
will serve as the registrar for all currently undelegated domains.Adds,
modifies, deletes and renewals will be ordered through an Internet GUI
or other process.However,
during the time in which this interim policy applies, only state and local
government agencies and their designated representatives will be eligible
to register new names in formerly undelegated .US domains.In
order to register a name, the registrant must complete the online form
(including the provision of all requested information) and agree to the
NeuStar .US Domain Name Registration Terms and Conditions.The
data required from registrants in the locality space is the same as in
the expanded space.
Upon
completion and submission of the registration information, the entity registering
the name will be required to provide the following along with the registration
information:
·If
the entity requesting the name is the entity eligible to hold the name
(a local government, for example), then the requester must provide a notarized
letter on the letterhead of the requesting entity stating that the requester
is authorized to request and use the name.
·If
the entity requesting the name is not the entity eligible to hold the name,
but is operating under authority of such entity (a hosting company hired
by a local government, for example) then the requester must provide a notarized
letter that it is authorized to request the name on behalf of the eligible
entity, as well as a notarized letter from the eligible entity stating
that it has authorized the requester to obtain and maintain the name.
Once
NeuStar receives the originals of the above letters, the requested name
will be activated.
V.
Future Policies and Processes
Any
registration made under this interim policy will remain subject to the
results of the compliance report process.Policies
and procedures described in the compliance report and approved by the DoC
will apply to all registered names, including names registered under this
interim policy.