Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!IFS.UMICH.EDU!bhoward
From: bhoward@IFS.UMICH.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: (none)
Message-ID: <8911130246.AA24053@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 8 Nov 89 20:13:47 GMT
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Organization: The Internet
Lines: 38


	From: CERF@A.ISI.EDU
	Date: 4 Nov 1989 10:30-EST
	To: dell@APPLE.COM
	Cc: tcp-ip@NIC.DDN.MIL
	Sender: CERF@A.ISI.EDU
	Subject: Re: Top level .int domain
	
	There were some organizations which felt themselves to be
	international in nature and did not want to register under
	any particular national rubric. So .INT was created
	to accommodate.
	
	Vint Cerf
	
	p.s. the administrator is Mark Pullen at DARPA/ISTO.

the impression i had was that one particular organization (cern?) originally
wanted to be placed into a top level domain not already associated with any
particular nation.  .org was suggested but it was decided that .org was really
.org.us so .int was created.

at one point i attempted registering a domain under .int for non-commerical
organization that similarly did not want to be associated with any particular
nation.  unfortunately, it was felt by the nic and/or mark that .org sufficed.
i gained the distinct impression that there was little interest in using .int
for anything other than cern or perhaps the international red cross.  i guess
they perceive .int only applying to international pseudo-governmental agencies?

i think that a broader use of .int would be useful and appropriate.  i can imagine
a number of international clubs, associations, political groups etc. that might
wish to be under .int that don't belong under any of the other existing domains.

perhaps mark pullen or someone from nic.ddn.mil could outline the "official"
criteria by which one may obtain a domain under .int?  if none currently exists,
we could hash it out here.

				bruce