A little bit of history
So how did .coop begin and where has it been since. We present the significant dates
in our history.
2000-08-02
The National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) files its proposal for a .coop restricted top-level domain (TLD) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
2000-11-16
ICANN approves .coop as one of seven new TLDs to be added to the internet domain name system based on international support from the co-op community.
2001-05-18
NCBA creates new subsidiary company, DotCooperation LLC (dotCoop), to act as pre-launch registrar for .coop domains and sponsor for .coop registry.
2001-07-01
dotCoop begins its pre-launch program to allow members of the <a href="About.aspx">Founders</a> to register .coop domain names before the registry is actually launched.
2001-11-21
DotCoop signs a contract with ICANN to activate the.coop domain on the Internet.
2002-01-30
The .coop registry officially opened for business; .coop domain names become active!
2002-10-01
dotCoop initiates full registrar-based services with one registrar. By January 2003, there are 3 registrars offering registration services to .coop registrants.
2004-11-15
.coop launches directory.coop, the only complete directory for online coops.
2005-09-01
Midcounties Co-operative Domains, a subsidiary of Midcounties Co-operative Society, takes over registry operator services from Poptel, providing a completely co-operative infrastructure for the .coop domain.
2007-06-29
The ICANN board renews dotCoop’s contract to act as sponsor for the .coop domain. Midcounties continues as the registry operator.
2007-10-19
At the International Co-operative Alliance reconfirms its support for the .coop domain at the ICA General Assembly in Singapore and calls on its members to fully support .coop by using the domain on the Internet and for email to clearly identify cooperatives.