1 Domain registration policy review: Terms of Reference

The.uk country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) came into existence in July 1985 and was initially operated on an informal basis by volunteers from the UK internet community. Domain name registrations were allocated by a “Naming Committee ” free of charge on a quasi-manual basis. By the mid 1990s, this position became unsustainable and since 1996 Nominet, a private company limited by guarantee, has administered the registry database and nameserver infrastructure (which enables.uk domain names to be used for web browsing and email). In practice Nominet does not often deal directly with the potential registrants of domain names, leaving this to its network of registrars who have automated access to the Nominet registration systems. Nominet has around 3,000 registrars which include almost all UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs), as well as media organisations such as the BBC and other parties who prefer to manage their own domain names. Registrars typically provide other services such as web hosting and design, and email provision in addition to domain name registration. Almost without exception, Nominet’s registrars are also members of Nominet. Being a member of Nominet results in a much lower wholesale cost for registration of domain names; £3.50 for one year, £5.00 for two years