On behalf of the 1,000 rural utility cooperative members of the National Rural Telecommunications
Cooperative (NRTC), I applaud the ICANN staff report for including .co-op among the
proposed top-level domains (TLDs) still under consideration. The report concluded
that the National Cooperative Business Association’s (NCBA’s) proposal for .co-op
is both technically and financially sound, while noting the broad public support
for .co-op around the world.The .co-op TLD has cleared this first hurdle, but
we’re not to the finish line yet. As the second round of reviews begins, I
urge ICANN to recognize the critical need for the .co-op TLD in today’s overcrowded
and competitive Internet marketplace. The cooperative sector is growing significantly
across all industries throughout the world, in both rural and urban areas.
As more co-ops join the World Wide Web, they are forced to use the ill-suited .com
or .org TLD to represent their businesses. This means that fewer consumers
can find their cooperatives online, and fewer cooperatives can serve their membership
effectively.
The word co-op is recognized to represent businesses that provide
services and solutions to their member-owners. The .co-op domain name would
have a significant impact on the 725 million members of the world’s 750,000 cooperatives.
By adding .co-op as a Special Purpose TLD, ICANN will open up a broad range of new
domain names, helping consumers find the businesses they trust on the Internet.
Make
a difference to 725 million people around the world. Approve .co-op as a Special
Purpose TLD.
Sincerely,
Bob Phillips
President and CEO
National
Rural Telecommunications Cooperative
2121 Cooperative Way, Suite 500
Herndon,
VA 20171