Should .nz domain names be available at the second level?

The Domain Name Commission Ltd has published:

The Domain Name Commission is proposing to extend the .nz domain name space by allowing anybody to register domain names at the ‘second level’.  This has the potential to significantly alter New Zealand’s domain name space so it’s important we get your views.

This is a proposal for consultation, so the DNCL is keen to get views and submissions from people. Note I am a Director of the DNCL.

Basically the change means that (for example) Trade Me could try and register trademe.nz rather than trademe.co.nz. For individuals such as MPs, it could mean they could get (again for example) simonbridges.nz rather than have to decide whether to get simonbridges.co.nz or simonbridges.net.nz or simonbridges.org.nz etc.

Note that the proposal is not to close registrations in the existing sub-domains such as co.nz, org.nz. The proposal is that people have a choice of registering at the second level or at the third level, or both.

They key features of the proposal are:

• Registration of .nz domain names could be at the second or third levels on an ongoing basis.
• Existing second level domains (such as .co.nz) will remain and continue to be supported.
• There will be no impact on any currently registered .nz domain names.
• Registrations at the second level will be on a “first come, first served” basis, except during the Sunrise Period and where there are currently multiple registrations of the same name in different second level domains.
• The Sunrise Period will be a designated window, where existing .nz domain name holders (registrants) can register their domain name/s at the second level if they are the only one that has that name at the third level.
• If two or more domain name holders have the same name at the third level, no-one  will be able to register that name at the second level unless they obtain the consent of the other third level name holders. Alternatively, if all agree, it could become a second level domain instead.
• A temporary amendment to the Dispute Resolution Service Policy to cover sub-domains of generic domain names registered at the second level.

There is a consultation paper online here. I encourage those with an interest in this to read the paper, and hopefully respond to it.

Each section of the Consultation Paper raises specific questions.  Please respond to these questions or, more generally, to any of the issues raised through the online response from athttps://www.research.net/s/dnc_consultation1. 

Submissions can also be made by email to policies@dnc.org.nz, by fax to (04) 495 2115, or by mail to P O Box 11881, Wellington.  The closing date for submissions is midday on Thursday 27 September 2012. 

More links and info are on this page.