The TCP/IP Guide  9  TCP/IP Application Layer Protocols, Services and Applications (OSI Layers 5, 6 and 7)       9  Name Systems and TCP/IP Name Registration and Name Resolution            9  TCP/IP Name Systems: Host Tables and Domain Name System (DNS)                 9  TCP/IP Domain Name System (DNS)                      9  DNS Name Registration, Public Administration, Zones and Authorities

DNS Organizational (Generic) Top Level Domains and Authorities 1 2 3 4 DNS Second-Level and Lower Domains, Delegation of Registration Authority and Public Registration

In theory, the generic top-level domains (TLDs) would be sufficient to meet the needs of all the individuals, companies and groups in the world. This is especially true since .ORG by definition is a “catch all” that can include anyone or anything. However, back at the beginning of DNS, its creators recognized that the generic TLDs might not meet the needs of everyone around the world. There are several reasons for this, chief among them:

• Americentricism of the Generic Domains: I don't mean this as a criticism (I'm an American citizen and love my country!) It is indisputable, however, that United States organizations and companies dominate the generic TLDs. This is not surprising, given that the Internet was first developed in the U.S.A., but it still presents a problem for certain groups. For example, if the United States military controls the .MIL domain, where does, say, Britain's military fit into the name space?
  
  
• Language: Most of the generic domains are populated by organizations that primarily do business in English. There are hundreds of languages in the world, however, and it's easier for the speakers of those tongues if they can more readily locate resources they can understand.
  
  
• Local Control: Countries around the world rarely agree on much, and they certainly differ on how organizations within their nations should have their Internet presence arranged. There was a desire on the parts of many to allow nations to have the ability to set up subsets of the name space for their own use.

DNS Organizational (Generic) Top Level Domains and Authorities 1 2 3 4 DNS Second-Level and Lower Domains, Delegation of Registration Authority and Public Registration