Sponsored top-level domain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) is a generic top-level domain proposed by an independent agency, with that agency establishing and enforcing rules restricting the eligibility of registrants to use the TLD. For example, the .aero TLD is sponsored by the Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques, which limits registrations to members of the air-transport industry.

TLD Eligibility Sponsors
Current sponsored TLDs
.aero Members of the air-transport industry Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques
.asia Companies, organisations and individuals in the Asia-Pacific region DotAsia Organisation
.coop Cooperative associations Dot Cooperation LLC
.museum Museums Museum Domain Management Association
.pro Credentialed professionals and related entities Registry Services Corporation
.travel Travel agents, airlines, hoteliers, tourism bureaus, etc. The Travel Partnership
.cat Catalan language and culture Fundació puntCat
.jobs Employment-related sites The Society for Human Resource Management
.mobi Mobile devices and services for them Nokia / Vodafone / Microsoft / Afilias
.tel Internet-based voice/data/text communication Telname Limited
Pending sponsored TLDs
.post Postal agencies and similar businesses Universal Postal Union
Rejected sponsored TLDs
.xxx Sexually explicit material ICM Registry, Inc

There are also non-sponsored generic TLDs which are restricted by other criteria, including .edu (United States accredited colleges), .mil (the United States military), .gov (the United States government), .int (organisations formed by international treaty), and .biz (businesses engaging in commerce on the internet).

Future Top-Level-Domain candidates can be found at Upcoming new Top-Level-Domains