Network Working Group M. Schultz INTERNET DRAFT NUMNet Updates RFC 1591 May 1997 Category: Informational Expire in six months Creation of and Registration in the ".NUM" Top Level Domain Status of this Memo This document is an Internet-Draft. Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups. Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet- Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress." To view the entire list of current Internet-Drafts, please check the "1id-abstracts.txt" listing contained in the Internet-Drafts Shadow Directories on ftp.is.co.za (Africa), ftp.nordu.net (Europe), munnari.oz.au (Pacific Rim), ds.internic.net (US East Coast), or ftp.isi.edu (US West Coast). This memo provides information for the Internet community. This memo does not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Introduction This document describes the creation, registration requirements, and administration of the new top level domain (TLD) NUM. Definition NUM is the TLD provided for the registration of an individual's or organization's in-service, assigned telephone number as the second level domain (SLD). Those numbers or letters are recognized as a phone number by the NUM extension. It is international in nature. Creation The NUM TLD has been created to meet the growing demand in the Internet community for more top level domain name options. The creation of this new TLD is supported by the assertion that the impetus for designing the domain name system (DNS) was to accommodate growth on the Internet and designed to be "intentionally extensible" (RFC 1034). Therefore, NUM was created to serve as an additional choice for any entity that chooses to be classified by its in-service, assigned telephone number. The original goal for the DNS system was for a more clear, concise classification system (RFC 1591), giving each individual or organization a unique, easily identifiable domain. NUM will fit within these parameters, while creating a new way to be classified. Using an in-service, assigned telephone number as a second level domain will greatly reduce instances of trademark infringement conflict, as well as reduce the unnecessary registering of prospective domain names, i.e. "domain name hoarding". It will also provide organizations the opportunity to have a unified corporate identity to facilitate phone number recognition through printed materials. Schultz [Page 1] INTERNET DRAFT NUM Top Level Domain May 1997 Registration Requirements. 1. The SLD must be the registering party's telephone number assigned to them by their servicing telephone company. 2. The telephone number must be in working order at the time of registration and must remain in working order while registered to the holding individual or organization. 3. The SLDs must contain the country code, the city or area code and the telephone number, e.g. country code-city or area code-telephone number. The country codes can be referenced at http://www.num.net or ftp://ftp.num.net. 4. The telephone number may be represented by numerals or letters if the letters directly correspond to the numerical telephone number, e.g. "1-800-55-KITES.NUM". Administration The administration of NUM will be provided by NUMNet of Fairfax, Virginia, in accordance with the requirements set forth in RFC 1591. This RFC updates 1591 in the categories which list the other TLDs and their designated managers. Security Considerations Security issues are not discussed in this memo. References [1] Postal, J., "Domain Name System Structure and Delegation", RFC 1591, USC/Information Sciences Institute, March 1994. [2] Mockapetris, P., "Domain Names-Concepts and Facilities", STD 13, RFC 1034, USC/Information Sciences Institutes, November 1987. Author's Address Mark Schultz NUMNet 12817 Shadow Oak Lane Fairfax, VA 22033 Phone: 703-391-1946 Fax: 703-620-5472 Email: Schultz@num.net Schultz [Page 2]