.ax

Infobox Top level domain
name=.ax
background=#CCF


introduced=2006
type=Country code top-level domain
status=Active
registry=Landskapsregeringen
sponsor=Landskapsregeringen
intendeduse=Entities connected with the flag|Åland Islands
actualuse=Popular on the Åland Islands
restrictions=
structure=
document= [http://www.iana.org/reports/ax-report-09jun06.pdf IANA delegation report]
disputepolicy=
website= [http://www.regeringen.ax/axreg/ Registration site] |

.ax is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) of the Åland Islands, introduced in 2006. Previously, most Åland websites were under the .aland.fi subdomain.

History

On February 17 2006, the Finnish parliament approved a modification of the laws regulating Finnish domain names to include the .ax top-level domain. During a three year period, the aland.fi subdomain will be phased out while .ax will be used in parallel; no new registrations under the aland.fi subdomain will be accepted, and all current owners of domains under the aland.fi subdomain will receive registrations for the corresponding .ax domain.ref|axapproved

On March 17 2006, Finnish president Tarja Halonen signed the bill into law, effective as of March 27, 2006.ref|signed The government of Åland began accepting registrations immediately following the changing of the law.

On June 9, ICANN approved delegating the .ax top-level domain to the government of Åland.ref|delegated The .ax domain was added to the root zone on June 21, 2006, and became active on August 15, 2006.ref|register

Registration requirements

Domain names can be granted to:
* A legal person with a set place of business or who is registered on the Åland Islands.
* A public sector entity, government owned business, independent public institution or public association that is acting on the Åland Islands or has been registered here.
* A person, at least 15 years of age, whose home municipality is on the Åland Islands or who has the Right of Domicile as defined in the Autonomy Act.ref|English

References

* [http://www.icann.org/minutes/resolutions-09jun06.htm Adopted Resolutions] , special meeting of the board of ICANN
* [http://www.iana.org/reports/ax-report-09jun06.pdf IANA Report on Delegation of the .AX Top-Level Domain] , from IANA website
* [http://www.ls.aland.fi/axreg/ Ansökan om domännamn] , The government of Åland's domain registration website
* [http://axventure.com/ Axventure.com] English translation of the rules for ax. domain names

External links

* [http://www.iana.org/root-whois/ax.htm IANA .ax whois information]