General

1.  No new SLD will be created unless Nominet has given approval in accordance with the Policy for the Creation of new Second Level Domains (the "Policy") and the Procedure for the creation of new Second Level Domains (the "Procedure").

2. When an informal proposal to establish a Second Level Domain ("SLD") is made to Nominet's executive staff ("the Executive"), the applicant shall be directed to the Policy and to the Procedure.

Purpose of an SLD

3. The purpose of an SLD is:

3.1. To act as a mnemonic for the Domain Name System; and
3.2. To assist identifying the category of eligible registrants in the Domain Name System ("Registrants"); and
3.3. To facilitate the location of Internet resources in the UK.

4. It is intended that the number of new SLDs created shall be limited to minimise potential confusion in the marketplace. The unnecessary creation of an SLD diminishes the value of the existing namespace in which users have already registered.

5. Any new SLD must be:-  

5.1. beneficial to users, or potential users of the UK namespace and the Internet community as a whole ("the Internet Community"); and
5.2. an appropriate use of limited resources.

6. No SLD shall be created if its uses and functions are wholly or substantially encompassed by the charter of any single existing SLD.

7. A new SLD shall not normally be permitted where a new SLD with a wider charter would better serve the interests of the Internet Community.

Types of SLD

8. There may only be two types of SLD:

8.1. "Third Party Delegated" and
8.2. "Nominet Operated".

9. If an SLD is Third Party Delegated, control of the operation of the SLD will be contracted by Nominet to a third party ("the Third Party Registry").  

9.1. An SLD will only be delegated to a Third Party Registry where the Third Party Registry is able to demonstrate it is recognised as a suitably neutral and impartial body by a significant number of potential Registrants in the SLD, and that it can comply with the Policy.

9.2. A Third Party Registry must act in the interests of the Internet Community as a trustee of the delegated SLD. 

10. If an SLD is Nominet Operated, Nominet shall retain day-to-day management of the SLD.
 
11. There will be a predisposition towards Nominet Operated SLDs.