Congress, Domain Firm
Clash over .Kids Domain
NeuStar, the company that agreed to set up a children-only Internet zone when it won the right to manage the .us Internet domain last fall, asked Congress September 12 not to pass a law requiring it to establish the .kids.us subdomain.
In a statement presented to the Senate Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee, NeuStar said it is “committed to the responsible introduction of .kids.us,” but that the proposed legislation would “impede rather than promote the realization of the .kids.us vision.”
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), who cosponsored legislation (S.2537) that would require NeuStar to get the kid-friendly Internet area up and running within a year, said, “If we don’t put the pressure on, I don’t know that it’s ever going to happen,” according to a September 12 Reuters report. The House passed a similar bill (H.R.3833) May 21.
NeuStar has posted preliminary guidelines for the domain on its Web site and is seeking input from the public through October 11. The proposed requirements ban sex, violence, the “seven dirty words” prohibited by the Federal Communications Commission, and any content that advocates gambling, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
Posted September 23, 2002.
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