Scottish Government
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DotScot seeks support
The UK Government has been called on to back the creation of a dotSCOT (.scot) internet domain, and ensure Scotland is at the centre of a transformation in the way people use the web.
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has written to counterpart Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture Communications and Creative Industries, asking him to back the not-for-profit company Dot Scot Registry (DSR) which has been set up specifically to ensure a domain is established.
The bid for a new dotSCOT domain will bring together a worldwide online community defined by its interest in all things Scottish.
The International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced in the summer that the application window for new Top Level Domains (TLDs) will open for a three month period from January 12.
Hundreds of bids for domains are expected to be submitted, including dotNYC, dotLONDON, dotBERLIN, and dotCYMRU in a process that will expand greatly the number of domains or web addresses available to internet users.
DSR was created two years ago to be ready when the opportunity arose to create the new domain and its directors were this weekend preparing the details of their bid and looking ahead to plans for operating the registry when it is successful.
Mr Neil said:
"The Scottish Government is behind this company because we believe there is strong demand for a dotscot domain and that it should be run as a public resource on a not-for-profit basis that will quickly become self financing.
"I am sure the UK Government with its responsibility for internet governance will want to support us. Across the board support would undoubtedly strengthen our hand and build momentum behind the bid.
"DotSCOT will be a wonderful asset for establishing a distinctive online identity for many organisations and people who have been described as the worldwide family of Scots and want to demonstrate that identity online."
