.CA Registration Rules Take Effect

[Ottawa, CANADA] As of today, CIRA certified registrars are
processing requests for new .ca domain names under the new, broader
registration rules. Under the new rules anyone meeting the Canadian
Presence Requirements can register one or more .ca domain names on a
first come first served basis.

CIRA is a not-for-profit organization mandated by the Canadian Domain
Name Consultative Committee to operate the .ca top-level domain. It
is responsible for setting policy, managing and operating the .ca
domain database, and registering domain names through its network of
certified registrars.

“The Canadian Internet community has been asking for more flexible
registration rules for the .ca domain. Today, the process for
making .ca domain names accessible to more Canadians has come to
fruition,” said Maureen Cubberley, chair of the CIRA Board.

“Canadian business can now grow in a .ca world, not just a .com
world.”

To register a new .ca domain name, applicants must use the services
of a certified registrar (list available on CIRAs Web site).
However, new .ca domain names will be registered through CIRA in the
registry operated by the University of British Columbia until
November 30, 2000.

On December 1, 2000, CIRA’s registry will become fully operational;
on that date, all registrations processed through CIRA on or after
November 8, 2000 will be automatically transferred to CIRA’s registry.

Registrars are also continuing to accept requests for
re-registrations from existing .ca domain name holders. Since the
re-registration period began September 18, approximately 43,000 of the
98,000 existing domain names have been re-registered.

Failure to re-register an existing domain name in CIRA’s registry
will cause the domain name to be inactive on December 1, 2000, and
may result in someone else registering the domain name after January
31, 2001.

CIRA has set up a toll-free number to respond to inquiries from the
public on domain name registration. The toll-free number is
1-877-860-1411.

The ongoing InternetNews.com coverage of the .ca domain name story
can be reviewed at:

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