ccTLDs were originally intended to be used by the citizens of the countries that
they respresent. The idea of marketing these as alternative to "dot com" was pioneered
by NU Domains LTD, and Tonic (from Tonga). I don't think that ICANN or IANA ever
forsaw this happening. This is the strongest evidence yet that new gTLDS are needed.
These ccTLD registries are not being administered by the local people, they are being
exploited by some enterprising Americans who understand the value and the demand
for new gTLDS to compete with "dot coms". If you go to the Tonic site (see link below)
you will find this paragraph:"All the good names are gone.Missed the boat? Maybe
not. Thanks to the Pacific island kingdom of Tonga (and two enterprising young Americans)
you have a second chance. Working out of their consulate in San Francisco, Tonga
is now issuing domain names with their .TO suffix."
If gTLDS existed right
now, nobody would be registering .to names except for Tongans. I don't doubt that
the flow of money has helped their economies. And, the increase in sales has helped
their infrastructure. This is a good thing. Don't get me wrong I am not against helping
people rise above thier current economic status.
I am just suggesting that ccTLD's
should not be marketed as an "alternative to dot com" names. If someone want to buy
a ".to" name that is great... more power to them! But, don't stop the addition of
new gTLDs because the country codes are being sold as substitutes. Nobody ever intended
this to happen - it just did.